4th team, 4th team, 4th team

Bolton 4th 76 Clitheroe 2nd 0

With almost the full squad available, Bolton went into this game in confident mood. But the early minutes gave cause for concern as Clitheroe seemed to settle into their routine first. However good tackling by the whole Bolton team kept the visitors at bay. The first score came from a Jack Dickinson break thru the midfield. As he was tackled he offloaded to Keith Howie who in turn was tackled just short of the line. Another offload to the supporting Nick Bridges and Bolton had their first points on the board. Howie added the conversion, 7 – 0. Shortly afterwards, a big tackle in the centre by Gareth Flounders forced the ball from the Clitheroe player, this was quickly picked up by Bolton who spun the ball out thru the backs to winger Jamie Cairns who ran half the length of the pitch to score. Conversion added, 14 – 0. The third came from a loose ball that was picked up by Flounders , who offloaded to Mark Higgins who made the hard yards, before passing to Dickinson who weaved his way over the line to score, 19 – 0. Next, Flounders made a break to be stopped just short of the line, but was robbed of the ball by the defender who tried to run out of defence. Bolton tackled him and turned the ball over, Howie fed it out to Duncan Craigen who took the tackle near the line to offload to the supporting Bridges, 24 – 0. From the restart Ben Hill took off on a powerful run and shrugged aside would be tacklers to score under the posts, 31 - 0. Charlie Walton, at full back, was subbed off just before half time, neither having touched the ball, nor having had to make a tackle. Apparently he just comes to the club for his weekly shower ! With the half coming to a close, Clitheroe were penalised for joining the ruck at the side. With a kick to touch, Bolton threw the ball in, and tapped down to Howie, who made the initial break before passing to Spencer Pettitt who scored, 38 – 0.
As the second half started, Bolton carried on from where they finished the first. A number 8 pickup at the scrum, out to Howie, who fed full-back Mike Smith who hit the line and took the ball to the opposition 22, there he elected to draw the final defender before passing back to Howie to score, 45 – 0. Next Flounders took a well timed interception to run half the pitch to score, 52 – 0. As Bolton pushed forwards again, they struggled to cross the line in the corner against the big Clitheroe forwards. A penalty was conceded by Bolton, but Clitheroe elected to try to run it out. But a tackle followed by a turnover ball allowed Spencer to come away with the ball before passing to Ali Wilde to open his account, 57 – 0. Apparently, at this point Mark Higgins received the ball and tore off down the wing showing a remarkable turn of pace, only being stopped by having three defenders hanging on to him, but this correspondent didn’t see the alleged incident. A tap down from a Bolton line out, to scrum half Howie was spun out across the backs, for opposite winger Sam Kelly to score, 64 – 0. Spencer dummied from his own half and split the Clitheroe defence with an easy run in to score, 69 – 0. Finally Flounders picked up a loose ball and out sprinted the Clitheroe backs to cross for his second, 76 – 0.
The big crowd who had turned up to watch the game now turned their attention to the 1st team game that was taking place on the adjacent pitch, where the afternoon’s entertainment continued.
In the evening at the Player’s Presentation dinner, captain Keith Howie thanked all of the team for a great season. Player of the Year was Ben ‘Teff’ Hill. Players Player was Gareth ‘ Farmer’ Flounders. 4th team, 4th team, 4th team !