Bolton 4s have their cake and eat it

Bolton 4th 32 Eccles 4th 15

On a soaking wet day, the recent pitch improvement were worth their weight in gold, as in previous years this game would have been lost to the weather. The first 15 minutes were very much a centre of the field affair with both teams sounding each other out. The introduction of Jim “fairy cake“ Sharples for his first ever game at hooker was a revelation, as he settled into the position like natural. But Bolton opened the scoring after a delightfully delayed pass from Spencer “pre-match bin lid” Pettitt allowed Ken “who ate all the pies” Sackfield to race thru the gap to score, 5 – 0. Shortly after, Spencer made his own gap and raced half the length of the pitch to score 10 – 0. Meanwhile one of last weeks start performers, Paul “butter fingers” Leigh was having a torrid time as he struggled to hold onto the ball in the damp conditions. Within minutes, it was Spencer who scored as a quickly taken tap penalty allowed him to cross the line again, 17 – 0. At this stage it looked like it was going to be one-way traffic, but Eccles came back strongly with a bullocking run from their 7 who forced his way over the line, 17 – 5. Further Eccles pressure on the Bolton line and a penalty conceded for not rolling away was kicked, 17 – 8. Half time and with Eccles finishing the stronger, Bolton could not rest on their laurels for too long.
A good start to the half and a rolling maul the 3rds would have been proud of took play to the Eccles line. And flying off the side it’s Matt “sausage roll“ Robinson who hurtles over the line to score his first ever try for Bolton, 22 – 8. Eccles came back with a converted try, 22 – 15, to keep the game interesting. Bolton, now back in the Eccles half head for the line with a good scrum, and captain Mark “I ate all the pies” Higgins picks up to record his 8th try of the season, 27 – 15. At this point Mark “soda bread“ Robinson is introduced to the game, having turned up 60 minutes late for kick off. More good Bolton pressure and Danny “angel hair pasta“ Doherty caps a good game with a chase, tackle and recovery of the ball, but is foiled when he is just caught as he gets a sniff of the white line. From the ensuing play Spencer benefits from another interception and crosses the line again to score under the posts, 32 – 15. His exemplary kicking performance is topped when he hits the upright with the kick.
A good, hard game, but that was what was needed. Two new players this week, and two more playing only their second game. Competition for places is increasing and those who miss a week to go Xmas shopping may have to bribe the management team to get their places back !