Bolton 2nd XV vs Leigh 3rd XV

Bolton resumed their campaign after the Christmas break against one of the teams currently placed in the lower half of the table. However, Captain Keech was quick to remind everybody that complacency cannot be an option and fortuitously the defeat at Wigan prior to Christmas had not cost the team the position of 2nd in the table, due to Blackburn and Trafford both losing their respective fixtures.
Despite this warning however, Bolton started the game with eratic passing notably from Sonny Bill Quegan who gave a ridiculous round the back pass to nobody, straight out of the Mike Singleton play book. For the opening 5-10 minutes this seemed to be a reoccurring theme of ridiculous passes and erratic decision meant Bolton found it difficult to establish a hold in the game, against a stronger Leigh team than the one Bolton had dispatched comfortably earlier in the season.
Bolton started to make inroads with strong running from Jazzy Geoff Earle and Alex Waddicar and Leigh starting to give away penalties saw Bolton gain a lineout on the opposing 10m line. Good quick lineout and excellent jumping from Nick Sandbrook meant the ball was moved quickly away. Good judgement from Terry saw the ball shipped in the opposite direction and good hands saw Dregmaster Tailor touch down in the corner. Conversation smartly converted by Terry.
Bolton saw this as the opportunity to exert pressure upon Leigh with Geoff and Taff combining well off the Kick-off meant Bolton clawed there way up field once more, saw Bolton gain a scrum, which saw for once the Ball flow through the entire back line without any issues for T. Relph to touch down in the corner.
This gave Bolton more momentum and soon after the restart T. Relph touched down again under the sticks, which was soon followed by Cous Cous.
Half time 22-0 to Bolton.
The second half kick-off and Leigh immediately put Bolton under pressure with solid running from their Prop saw Bolton defending close to their own 5 m line, good defence saw Bolton hold the line, until a loose ball at the back of the Scrum and a push on Rob Terry and the lack of pace from Andrew Murtagh saw Leigh touch down.
Bolton however reacted and started to again build pressure upon the Leigh defence, with strong running from O. Relph, and Murtagh and Nick Sandbrook dominating both his own and opposing lineouts gave Bolton a good position up field which saw Waddicar score.
Bolton made a switch which saw Daniel Joseph and James Howarth return to action following injuries to Collar Bone and finger respectively. Bolton gradually managed to close the game up with Waddicarr again scoring in the corner.
Final Score Bolton 36 – Leigh 5.
MoM – T. Relph
Tries – Manny Tailor, T. Relph (2), Maruc O’Donohue, A. Waddicarr (2)