...against Cheshire outfit Wilmslow. Somewhere in the vague annuals of time Assistant Coach and former 1st XV legend Peter Marriot could remember playing Wilmslow in a cup match back in the 1996 / 1997 season but for all meaningful purposes this was the first time Bolton had competed with Wilmslow in a League fixture.

Bolton had trained well during the week with great numbers showing up to both sessions to try and correct some of the early mistakes which have blighted their league games to date. Coach Nick Holmes focussed throughout the week on tightening up the contact area with the forwards and ensuring the simple things were executed correctly both in the pack and the backs division.

With Coach Holmes in absentia for the weekend, Bolton turned to experienced 2nd XV Coach Peter Marriot and he echoed the same message that simplicity was the key to the game.

Bolton started very brightly with key props Hilton and Mee back in tandem dominating their opposite numbers in the scrum turning over the first four or five Wilmslow scrums with some ease. The lack of good ball for Wilmslow stymied their effervescent and stylish back division's ability to influence the game and the only surprise in the opening period of the game was that it was a back who opened the scoring as Mark Doherty recreated his score from the previous week ghosting between onrushing defenders to crash over the line from 20 yards out, Doherty converted his own penalty with aplomb and Bolton took a deserved lead.

However Bolton can be their own worse enemies and after some lack lustre play turned the ball over cheaply to Wilmslow they crashed the ball forward through their back row to earn a penalty for offside which Nick Barker ably converted for the visitors. Bolton surged forward from the kick off and after a brief exchange of kicks between the two sides in open play the Bolton forwards earned another penalty off the rapidly retreating Wilmslow scrum which Doherty hit the post with, unfortunately the surging chase of veteran prop forward Hilton could not gather the ball on the rebound and Wilmslow cleared their lines of danger.

Doherty was to redeem himself after another penalty was earned from the scrum which he slotted cleanly between the uprights to give Bolton the lead at 10 -3 and they appeared to be cruising.

But Wilmslow showed they have some real talent in their backs division and regained the ball immediately from kick off. Managing to finally hold a scrum up front they released their backs to run down the right wing before a great combined tackle from Rhys Pritchard and young full back Jack Robinson brought the attacking winger to the ground. The ball was quickly recycled by the Wilmslow back row, who gave everything they had all day for their team before the ball appeared to pop up kindly for the John Newsham to snatch it in mid air and crash over the line from 5 yards, fortunately the try was not converted.

Bolton were clearly stung by this experience with Vice Captain Ashley Cooper having a few strong words to say to his team mates regarding their hunger in defence.

With half time rapidly approaching Bolton captain Chris Cockton made what looked to be a great penalty call to opt for a scrum close to the Wilmslow 22. Bolton were very much in the ascendency in the set piece and they started to drive for the line. Almost immediately the referee blew up for a Wilmslow infringement. Cockton called for the penalty again and the scrum reset, sensing that this was a somewhat pivotal moment Bolton mustered their energy and with the ball delivered to number 8 James Brodie's feet, the powerful Bolton drive came on and started their march to the line. Once again the referee blew his whistle, the Bolton crowd celebrated fully expecting a penalty try to be awarded. The referee however offered no explanation and simply then blew up for half time to a somewhat stunned Avenue Street crowds disbelief!

Wilmslow obviously took this as a sign and began to believe that with this level of divine intervention they could take something away from this game, as was their right due to sitting only one place but some ten points ahead of Bolton in the League table. They came out firing on all cylinders in the second half and a brilliant individual try from their full back James saw him take a kick on the bounce, chip ahead and regather his own kick before stepping the covering defenders to cross for an exceptional try.

Bolton were somewhat shell shocked at this stage and suffered another body blow when their onrushing defence became somewhat ragged and Stobart cut inside to score another five points for Wilmslow, luck stood on Bolton's side and both conversions were missed but more bad news was heaped on board when from the restart Bolton almost immediately conceded a dangerous penalty and Barker stepped forward to slot the three points. 10 -23 to Wilmslow and Bolton looked out on their feet.

Coach Marriot introduced both Liam Ray and flanker Alex Youngman into the fray and the fresh legs seemed to add to the determination of the Bolton team to salvage something from the debacle that had been the previous 20 mins. Ray immediately surged forward on a dazzling kick and chase to put the Wilmslow team under pressure whilst Youngman's pace around the pack began to gain some valuable turn over ball.

Rhys Pritchard and Jack Robinson both had two scintillating runs from deep and as the game wore into the last quarter it seemed as if Bolton began to find a second wind. Hard running from club stalwarts Cooper and the barnstorming Louis Critchlow smashed the Wilmslow defenders with wave after wave of attacks. Supported by Tony Mclaughlin and skipper Cockton Wilmslow were finding it very hard to repel the cherry and whites. Another chip through from Liam Ray saw Wilmslow under pressure in their 22 and Bolton sensed the opportunity to avenge the insult to their scrum at the end of the first half. Stealing the feed away from the Wilmslow pack the Bolton pack snarled and drove their way towards the try line, but once again someone up above was looking after the Wilmslow line and the ball squirted out of the side, bobbling end over end before the Bolton fly half Mark Docherty swooped low to snatch the ball and bundle over the line for his second score of the day. Once again Docherty converted. 17 - 23 and the game was afoot.

Bolton could sense that their back just had a little more in them and hammered away at the Wilmslow defence from the kick off. James Brodie was rampaging his way over, round and though the defence, a defence that could find no answer or break from the assault from the Bolton orcs up front. After another brilliant run from Pritchard finished with a knock on, Bolton stole the scrum and started a 20 m walk towards the Wilmslow line. Wilmslow dug in but could not find the power to hold out the Bolton outfit and after some decent footwork controlling the ball James Brodie grounded the ball for a well deserved try with the extras added by Doherty.

The Wilmslow men had by then had enough and were forced to go uncontested after the substitution of their second front row forward, however there was still the opportunity for Doherty to add another three points from a penalty to take his personal tally for the day to 22 points, an exceptional day at the office for the former Ireland U19's player who has enjoyed a superb last two games at fly half for Bolton.

Notable mentions go to Jonny Stanfield and Nick Smith from the Bolton back division who work tirelessly all day to try and make something happen, indeed Smith carried ball with pure determination numerous times into the congested midfield always managing to win the contact are and ensure the ball was recycled for the next phase.

Bolton finished the day in good heart with points from their last two matches. Next Saturday sees the 1st XV travel to Wigton who are currently at the bottom of the league and Bolton will be hoping to break their duck on the road to the surprise package of the league last season. But as we have seen in this league nothing can ever be taken for certain and Bolton will need to recreate the passion, brutality and speed of the last quarter against Wilmslow to have any chance of coming away with the win in Northern Cumbria.