Bolton Secure 5 Points on Home Turf

Tries from Mark Doherty, Skipper Chris Cockton, Mike Mills and Rick Newman were enough to gain the win and the bonus point on offer, but it was performance that still needs improvement if Bolton are to really prove their worth this season.

Bolton started brightly chasing the kick well and immediately putting New Brighton under pressure. The pack laid down the foundations up front with Chris Mee and Tony McLaughlin giving the visiting defenders a tough day. New Brighton were forced to concede a line out following a clearance kick from within the 22m. Cockton found his jumper and the ball was swiftly moved out to the back line with Mark Doherty on the end of the final pass. With the winger ahead of him, Doherty put boot to ball and chased his own kick, dotting down in the corner to open up the scoring in the first few minutes. Mike Mills was on hand to add to the total and Bolton were 7-0 up having hardly broken a sweat.

New Brighton appeared shocked in to action and started to pepper the Cherry & White defensive wall with countless forward drives. The Bolton pack held out well but eventually a penalty was conceded with New Brighton opting to kick for the corner. Bolton soon discovered their oppositions strength and conceded a try following a rolling maul. With the extras added, the score now stood at 7-7.

New Brighton continued to mount attacks against Bolton but were easily snuffed out by a well organised defence, led impeccably by man of the match James Brodie and his back row partners Rick Newman and Ash Cooper. Bolton were looking to utilise their skilful back line as much as possible with Will Bate causing more than his fair share of problems against his opposite man.

It was to be a forward and back combination that brought about the next score of the game. Newman, spotting the flat attacking line of New Brighton and the tired pass shot up out of the line to intercept the ball some 40 m out. He was well chased as he charged for the line and chose to pass wide to the supporting Rhys Pritchard. Pritchard, in danger of being closed down hacked the ball back in field for Newman to chase, but on gathering he was caught by the full back. An offload back to Pritchard who then stood his defender up and sent he supporting Cockton over for the simplest of finishes. Mills was unsuccessful with the conversion attempt, but at 12-7 Bolton felt they were on top.

New Brighton soon conceded a penalty just inside their own half. Mills stepped up to make the most of the opportunity but his attempt fell inches short. The 22m drop out was sent deep and straight down the throat of winger Ryan Wignall, who had a strong game throughout. The back three worked the ball back across the pitch and Pritchard was storming down the wing once more. His kinking run got Bolton within striking distance of the try line and the pack were soon on hand to take charge. A number of bullocking runs from Louis Critchlow and Sam Hilton inched them closer until eventually Ash Cooper crossed the whitewash, but the referee deemed him to be held up.

The ensuing scrum next to the posts gave Bolton the perfect opportunity to exert their dominance as they already had done on a number of occasions at this set piece. With the pack bedded down and the ball at the feet of number 8 Brodie, they began their march. Unable to cope with the pressure NB collapsed giving the official no option than to award a penalty. A further scrum was called and yet again the front row of Hilton, Cockton and Mee turned on the power, once again NB couldn’t handle it, but with no advantage coming from the referee, the ball was shipped by scrum half James Singleton to Mills who ghosted his way over from close range. Converting his own try 10 minutes before half time.

Nick Holmes took this break in play as an opportunity to bring Ben Stubbs onto the field in place of Cockton to ensure that the scrum remained fresh. Even in the slightly unfamiliar position of hooker, Stubbs proved his worth for the next 40 minutes of the game. However, with Cockton off the field, Bolton appeared to lose some of their structure and discipline up front. Doherty was the first player on the wrong side of the official when he was sin binned for a late tackle just 5 minutes before the interval. New Brighton used the man advantage to gain a second score just before the whistle 19-14.

Bolton’s backline had been looking dangerous all day and once again got the upper hand on their opposite numbers. Nick Smith, back into the 1st XV after a week out showed what he was capable of at 12, breaking the mainline on countless occasions. He passed out wide to Bate, who stepped his opposite number and made for the line, with only the full back to beat, Bate slipped the ball to Pritchard who crossed the whitewash and headed for the sticks, but a strong covering tackle caused him to drop the ball and gave New Brighton the ball back.

With Doherty back on the field from his sin binning and some fresh legs on in the backs in the shape of Andrew Crimmins at 9 and John Stryker into the second row for Singleton and McLaughlin respectively Bolton soon started to regain some shape and enjoyed some sustained possession but again could not make it count.

New Brighton then mounted their assault on the home team and on the back foot Bolton were forced into conceding some silly penalties, with Louis Critchlow taking a yellow card for persistent team offences at the break down. Down to 14, New Brighton saw their chance at yet another driving maul and kicked for the corner. Holmes used the opportunity to replenish his forward pack and McLaughlin rejoined the fray with Wignall being sacrificed on the wing. Bolton managed to stem the attack and clear their lines.

After some strong carries by the forwards and some wonderful running lines out in the backs, Bolton once again found themselves close to the try line. The pressure told and eventually Rick Newman bundled his way over for his second try in as many games. Mills was successful with the conversion and Bolton had secured the try scoring bonus point but were far from closing this game out at 26-14 and with only 14 men on the field.

The visitors soon made the man advantage count and once again utilised their rolling maul to good effect. Even the sizeable presence of McLaughlin and Mee could not halt the attack and with the conversion kicked this game was hanging on a knife edge at 26-21.

Cockton was brought back onto the field in place of Stubbs who had carried well and tackled anything that came in front of him and Bolton were soon restored to 15 when Critchlow rejoined the fray. Wignall returned to the field with Stryker being taken back off.

Bolton continued their efforts in defence and were son rewarded with possession of the ball. Making their way down field, once again through a combination of forwards and backs. In their eagerness to win the ball back, New Brighton conceded a penalty in front of the posts which Mills was asked to convert. Despite being in front of the posts, the kick was pushed wide and New Brighton were still in the game.

The 22 drop out was charged down but a knock on from Hilton when trying to collect it gave NB the put in at the scrum. Bolton and been on top in this area all day and this was no different turning the ball over for their own use. They then began to string some attacks together, but tiredness was setting in and a lack of depth front he forwards made a Chris Mee pass very easy to pluck out of the air by the NB skipper who raced his way down and across field. He was caught but the ball was well recycled and moved wide. A covering tackle by fly half Mills stopped the attack and some outstanding work at the breakdown turned the ball back over for Doherty to punt in to touch.

Another win on home soil for Nick Holmes’ side who must now look ahead to a tough away trip against Kendal.