De La Salle Cost Bolton Top Spot

Bolton won the toss and chose to kick off. Bolton started extremely strongly controlling possession. Bolton’s pack looked strong dominating the scum and making good yards from the lineout. De La Salle gave away a penalty at the ruck which was kicked by Danny Barlow giving Bolton a 3-0 lead.

Bolton received the kick off and took it straight back to De La Salle gave away a penalty for swinging an elbow into Geoff Earle as he made a tackle. Bolton kicked for corner and from the resulting lineout Bolton drove the Home side’s pack backwards. Bolton’s pressure resulted in another penalty again kicked by Danny Barlow making the score 6-0 within 10 minutes.

Bolton looked completely dominant and from the restart continued to cause De La Salle problems up front. De La Salle’s frustrations sparked a scuffle on the floor, unfortunately Bolton reacted and the penalty was reversed. The De La Salle fly half punished Bolton giving the home side great field position.

It was now Bolton’s turn to give away penalties. Bolton defended well as the De La Salle backs looked dangerous finding gaps constantly in the Bolton defence. De La Salle won another penalty but missed the target.

From the 22 drop out Barlow took it short and collected the ball. He attempted to pass to but the ball was knocked on. From the scum the home side chipped over and collected the ball and dove over for the first try of the game. The try was converted giving De La Salle a 1 point lead.

De La Salle looked dominant, looking to spread the ball wide at every opportunity to use the pace within their back line. From the kick off Bolton were again on the back foot. Bolton continuously guilty of being offside at the breakdown gifting De La Salle another 3 points from under the posts. Towards the end of the first half Matthew Parrish went straight through the middle of a De La Salle ruck much to the displeasure of the De La player who didn’t like being put on his back and began to swing on the floor, right under the eyes of the referee. The referee produced the first yellow card of the game.

Half Time Score 10-6

At half time Al Catt Replaced Rick Sandbrook . De La Salle restarted the game but Bolton again started slowly inviting De La Salle into their half.

A scrum inside the Bolton half looked promising for the visitors as the they drove the home pack backwards again but the De La Salle 8 did very well to pick up and go blind, drawing Nicholas Sandbrook into the tackle and passed to their winger for an easy try. The conversion missed leaving the score 15-6.

Bolton were now forcing passes and a poor pass in the backs gave an easy interception for the home side to score again, the conversion again missed. Stu Evans had to come off after receiving a boot to the face and Rick Sandbrook came back onto the wing. De La Salle began to enjoy the game and started putting late hits and high tackles. Another yellow card came as the home sides winger tried to trip Rick Sandbrook.

Bolton used the extra man advantage began running the ball positively looking dangerous in the process. From a De La Salle kick Tom Relph ran the ball back beating a couple of players before getting boomed by their prop forward who was at full speed. The home side began to feel the pressure and another player went to the bin for repeated offences at the breakdown. Bolton kept opting for scrums and kept driving the De La pack backwards until they drove over for Al Catt to get yet another try. The conversion missed by Danny Barlow. Score 21-11. This was a consolation as De La Salle closed out the game getting another penalty and a drop goal leaving the score 27-11 at full time.

Tries: Al Catherall
Penalties: Danny Barlow x 2
Fraser Hart MOTM: Matthew Parrish