Match report 2nd team v Eccles 13th Nov 2010

A disrupted 2nd XV headed over to local rivals Eccles to play out a top of the league encounter with their Manchester counterparts. Always a trick and tight contest, extra spice was added to the mix as Eccles were unbeaten at home this year and Bolton were unbeaten in all competitions - something had to give.

Bolton were led out by the indomitable Nicholas Sandbrook who was seeking a win in his 11th game as Captain for the season. A quick start saw Bolton push up the field with strong forward play by McLaughlin, Cheetham and Townsend forcing the Eccles forwards onto the back foot. Good distribution from Banks, Barlow and Peter Marriot saw both Rees and O'Donohue making space only to be denied by either the final pass or by some dubious refereeing decisions.

Eccles countered the Bolton attacks with some stout defence and with their back row winning the marginal decisions due to their speed managed to find ways to release their more than ample centre who broke the Bolton line on a number of occasions as weak defence around the midfield saw Bolton players falling off the tackle.

As Eccles edged their way down field Bolton were force into conceding a penalty which the Eccles fly half regally converted to open his account. Bolton pressed hard and defended well for the remainder of the second half yet could not find the killer punch to open their scoring account.

The second half saw another reshuffle in the Bolton pack as Wignall replaced Sandbrook. Early pressure on the Eccles pack from both Wignall and the effervescent young flanker Alan Martin, who proved more than a handful all day and in his 2nd XV debut, saw Eccles turn over the ball and this led to Bolton's best spell of the match. Unfortunately Bolton also suffered the problem of going a man down as Townsend was sent to the sin bin to cool his temper for 10 minutes. Bolton continued to exert pressure and some open rugby led to Rees scoring in the corner after some excellent running from David Ormes pummelled the Eccles defence.

Unfortunately Bolton could not hold the meagre advantage and Eccles executed a well worked back line move to cross under the posts which was then duly converted with only ten minutes remaining. Bolton again tried valiantly to regain the lead however in a scrappy final quarter the game deteriorated into a war of attrition which never allowed the chance for the teams to trouble the scorers.