Bolton travelled to Hawcoat park looking for their first away win of the season fully aware that dispite the difference in league positions this would not be an 'easy' game. Last minute changes to the starting line up saw Kieran Shacklock, who was home from Uni for the weekend,start on the wing with Sam Smith occupying the other wide birth and Danny Joseph reverting to fullback.
In less than ideal conditions Bolton kicked off and as expected HP kept the ball in their forwards to utilise their mauling game trying to starve Bolton of any possession.This tactic worked very well for the home side as for the first 15 mins Bolton saw very little of the ball.The cherry & whites first meaningful attack came on 17 mins when following some good handling from the back line winger Kieran Shacklock went over to open the scoring,skipper Ryhs Pritchard added the conversion.
The next period of the game was pretty much dominated by the home team with Bolton rarely having position of the ball,this resulted in a try for HP on 30 mins,with the conversion missed Bolton held a slender 5-7 lead.With vice captain Louis Critchlow having a well earned 10 min rest courtesy of the referee Bolton hit straight back following some strong carrying from the forwards they found themselves inside the HP 25,srumhalf Will Bate drew the defenders one way and threw a cheeky reverse pass to number 8 Gaz Pritchard to burst through the gap and go over unopposed from 20 mtrs out.Rhys Pritchard added the extras.Just before half time Bolton were awarded a penalty try after a break from centre Pritchard who was clean through when he was cynically brought down with a high tackle.

Half time HP 5 Bolton 21

The second half started pretty much the same as the fisrt with HP dominating possession through their rolling maul and it was from such a passage of play that Bolton scored the next try,with Hawcaot losing possession from a maul deep inside Boltons 25 flanker Ryan Mcclusky pounced on the loose ball and set off for the home try line some 80 mtrs up field, it was obvious that he only had one thing on his mind and nobody was going to stop him as he brushed aside 3 or 4 defenders and out paced the cover to score a contender for try of the season.Skipper Pritchard missed the conversion in what were becoming increasingly difficult kicking conditions.
Next on the score sheet was hooker Chris Cockton who found himself on the receiving end of a pass from number 10 James Singleton,with the try line beckoning Cockers showed a suprising turn of pace to go over from close range,conversion missed.On 70 mins centre Alex Waddicar took the try count upto 6 with Rhys Pritchard converting.Hawcoat hit back with 2 late tries of their own to leave the final score 15-38 and Boltons first away win of the season.

Mark Down