Bolton 4th Team Beat Preston (plus Bolton!)

By the time they took to the field they had 11 of their own players which meant they started with a full 15 man team. Having spotted this about 5 minutes into the game, Bolton generously allowed them to continue with a full team. After the initial to-ing and fro-ing, Bolton looked to be containing the larger Preston pack and always looked the more dangerous team on the attack. And so it proved as captain Keith Howie took his chance and opened the scoring after a short range break from the back of the scrum. He added the conversion. This seemed to lift the Bolton team as they then proceeded to attack at will. With a fine break down the wing, flanker Duncan Craigen turned the opposition winger inside out, finally being caught by the full

back. Shortly after he got his just reward as he crashed over for Bolton ‘s second try. The Preston back line, sporting 3 players in Bolton socks and shorts tried to take the game back to the home team, but the 4th team defence stood firm. Indeed the highlight of the game, for most of the supporters, was the Bolton loan player Bryan Wigwall being unceremoniously being dumped on his posterior by youngster Sam Chinn. As the game progressed toward half time, Bolton again took their foot off the gas and allowed Preston to put pressure on the Bolton line. But once again the Bolton defence stood firm. The Preston 8 decided he would punch his way through the line, so was sent to the sin-bin for 10 minutes to cool off. Bolton cleared their lines. But Preston kept on coming and were rewarded with a penalty try and a penalty on the stroke of half-time. Score Bolton 12 Preston 10. Would Bolton’s generosity backfire on them ?

Bolton opened the half playing the sort of rugby they enjoy. Move the ball around, suck the opposition in and then move it wide again. Sam Chinn made a great break down the wing being caught just short of the line, but Howie was in support and went over for his second try. Shortly after, Chinn was off again, but this time he got the try he deserved, outpacing the Preston backs. Wignall pulled back a try for his adopted team. Then James ‘route-1’ Gisborn tore thru the middle to score another trademark try. Howie added a penalty when Preston infringed near their own line. Tom Relph, finished the scoring with another well worked try for the 4s.