Convincing Win For Bolton

With Captain John Keech away on a elocution course in Birmingham, vice-captain Tom Relph and Coach Marriott took the reins for the day. With notable absentees of Lee Mac, Danny Ryder, Andrew Murtagh and local hero Ryan Wignall being bumped up to the 1XV meant that Bolton could only start the game with a bear 15 with Coach Marriott making a welcome return to the starting 15, increasing the average by 40 and Joe Smith starting in the back row.

A delay to kick off and poor warm up meant Bolton were agitated when play eventually started, this showed with an early penalty given to Ashton which was duly converted by the Ashton player giving them an early lead of 3-0. If Bolton needed a wake up call this was it.
Bolton then started to exert some pressure on the Ashton defence which was holding firm with loose hands from Bolton and poor decision making at the breakdown. The Ashton defence then collapsed with Bolton scoring under posts (Conversion missed by Terry).

The flood gates then opened with Botlon running in try after try. Mike Singy found a gap which he duly ran through to score, Pete Brogan filling in on the wing for a rest this week seemed to enjoy the Rambo ball and strong running lead to him scoring two tries in quick succession.

Ashton then started to put some pressure on Bolton, from a defence scrum, such as was Bolton confidence Mike Singy decided to run the ball, resulting in Tom Relph catch his own kick from his own 10 metre line to run the length of the field to score under the sticks. To make things interesting Rob Terry then decided to hit both uprights from underneath the posts and only just converted the scintillating try.
The try scoring continued with Bolton finishing the half 47-3 to the good.

Half Time: 47-3

Credit where credits due and after the half time break Ashton turned it on and put Bolton under pressure for the next 5-10 minutes. Strong Bolton defence held Ashton out and started to push their way back up field with marauding runs from Jazzy Geoff Earle, Jay Cheetham and Mark Townsend. Chris Turner was nowhere to be seen at this point and some say he went off to get a quick Peri Peri chicken wrap from up the road.

This pressure showed and further tries from John Stryker, Pete Brogan and Dave Meir meant Bolton were back in full control. Bolton continued to press with some good hands saw Dave Meir going for his hat-trick was brilliantly tackled into the touch by the covering Ashton player. Not long after Mr Meir soon found himself in the same position on the wing gunning for his hat-trick ball, only to have a moment of madness and instead of scoring in the corner decided to run into touch.

Credit to Ashton who never stopped trying until the final whistle. Bolton can take heart in a large score line, but will need to be more clinical in attack and better disciplined in defence if they are to continue to push for the 2nd spot in the league.

Full Time Bolton 2XV 80 – Ashton on Mersey 2XV 3.

Tries: Meir (2), T Relph, Crow, Brogan (4), Singy, O Relph, Smith (2)
Conversion Terry x 10.

M.O.M – Pete Brogan