Hard medicine to swallow for Medics

Good early possession and control, especially in the scrum from Bolton, against a very youthful Medics side. Finally the pressure told, as with a scrum pushing close to the line, ball was picked up at the back, and Matthew Robinson dummied and stretched to the line to open the scoring. Andy Jolly added the conversion, 7 – 0. Medics started to show what they were capable of, as they ran the ball at every opportunity, with their speedy full back being particularly difficult to track. Eventually, they broke thru the Bolton defence to score, 7 -7. Bolton responded and worked their way back down the pitch, but time after time gave away needless penalties which allowed Medics to take the offensive again. As Medics broke thru the Bolton line, a try seemed inevitable and the opposition player headed for the line. But full back Simon Walsh had other ideas as he stripped the Medics player of the ball without seeming to even break step – and the proceeded to turn defence into attack – much to the amazement of the Medics player, who actually applauded the Bolton player. But as Bolton continued to concede penalties, Medics took the opportunity to slot one over to go into half time with a 7 – 10 lead.
The second half started much better than the first one finished, as a good drive into the opposition 22 was only stopped by illegal play. Jolly added the penalty points to put the scores back to even, 10 – 10. The penny had dropped for Bolton as they realised that they needed to stick the ball up their jumpers and use their powerful scrum and maul drive to keep the ball in the Medics half. From a further determined rolling maul from a line-out, the ball was again driven into the opposition 22 where, once again, they conceded the penalty with Jolly slotting it between the sticks, 13 – 10. More pressure, another penalty and Andy ‘the machine’ Jolly added another three, 16 – 10. Finally Medics got the break they were looking for and took the ball from their own 22 deep into the Bolton half. Good Bolton defence stalled the inevitable, but the Medic numbers told and they crossed the line to score and re-take the lead, 16 – 17. Undeterred, and with minutes to go, Bolton went back on the offensive to look for another score. The Medics defence held firm, until the pressure told and another penalty was conceded. With the ref signalling last play, captain Mark Higgins put all the pressure on Jolly, and asked him to kick for the points. Into the wind. From quite wide out. Everyone went quiet. And with the biggest toe bung of the day the ball sailed cleanly between the sticks, 19 – 17. And the final whistle blew. A gutsy performance from Bolton and form medics to produce a great game of rugby that took it all the way to the wire. Even the ref commenting it was the best game he’s reffed all season.
Bolton progress to the semi-finals away at Dukinfield 3rds on 19th April.