Under 18s put on superb display against Glossop, but fall short

One of the great things about success in the league is that you get the opportunity to take on teams from higher leagues in the League Cup. In the Quarter Final Bolton defeated a side two leagues higher and their reward was a semi-final against a Glossop team who had finished some 20 places higher in the league structure in league A.
It was never going to be an easy game but it was definitely a chance for the lads to test themselves against the best.
The day didn’t start well with Charlie Aylett and Joey Gore unavailable due to injury but Glossop had their own injury concerns and it was still two large squads who took to the field in glorious sunshine; a very rare occurrence in this wettest of seasons.
Glossop started strongly and had the first opportunity to put points on the board but their kicker narrowly missed his penalty and the score remained 0-0. This seemed to drive the Bolton lads on and on 9 minutes Bolton broke the deadlock. Good work for the forward pack secured the ball and fast hands brought full back Josh Holmes into the move. It was Josh’s long pass that found Joe Partington in space and the Centre made the most of his chance bursting a couple of tackles and outpacing the cover to touch down next to the posts. Chris Brownlow added the extras and Bolton were ahead 7-0.
Bolton kept up the pressure and were unlucky not to increase their lead when Chris Brownlow slipped as his took a penalty shot at goal; despite that he wasn’t too far away but the score remained unchanged.
Glossop began to show their class and some good work in the forwards secured them a try and their excellent Fly Half grabbed a second a few moments later as he ghosted through the Bolton cover. In just a few minutes the score had become 10-14, as the Glossop tries were on either side of a Chris Brownlow penalty.
Chris added a second penalty on 25 minutes but Glossop took a deserved lead into the break with an unconverted try just before half time and the sides turned round with the score at 13-19 and all to play for especially as the Bolton boys’ defence was looking better and better.
Bolton started the second period with determination and within 5 minutes they were back in front at 20-19 as Josh Holmes benefitted from good work up from. and then good passes by, Harry Stocks, Joe Speakman, Chris Brownlow and finally Joe Partington who put him through a hole in the Glossop defence. With Sam Smith in support he rounded the full back and then made Chris’ conversion a little easier scoring closer to the sticks. Chris obliged and it was all to play for.
Glossop replied with two penalty attempts. The first went narrowly wide and resulted in a great counter attack from the home side, led by Charlie Hardern but the second bisected the posts to put the game on a knife edge at 20-22.
Both side threw everything into the final period. Bolton’s forwards were immense throughout and George Carbery deserves a special mention for playing most of the match out of position at prop against a heavier and more experienced front row. George was ably assisted by Connor Orrell and Matt Chowdhury who were backed up by Johnny Wallis and George Weston in the second row. Johnny was replaced by Paddy Hargreaves in the second half and the intensity never dropped. The back row of Mason Lockley, Ryan McClusky and Jordan Ashton were excellent throughout and each of the forwards, including replacements Jacob Walker and Harry Kay, underlined how far the Bolton team has come in 12 short months from watching a spellbinding performance by Glossop at last years’ finals day and thinking that they could never match that level. Well lads today you did and you should be proud.
In the backs Harry Stocks provided some excellent service to Fly half Joe Speakman and he had his opposite number guessing with the number of opportunities his outside players game him. Adam Kazmi entered the fray and despite it being several weeks since his last run in a Bolton shirt he looked dangerous as did Sam Smith and Charlie Hardern on the opposite flank. The Toms Hill and Evans backed up well and the team couldn’t have performed without them.
Both sides had opportunities and the game had the chance to go either way, however, Glossop secured their place in the final with a well worked try in the closing minutes. The Bolton boys’ hopes of a chance of a last gasp draw were shattered as the conversion was good.
Despite there being little time on the clock the Bolton side didn’t let their heads go down and kept playing to the end but it just wasn’t to be. However, they have an opportunity to progress to the final of the Lancashire Cup as they entertain Fleetwood at Avenue Street next Sunday.
Congratulations to Glossop and we wish they well in the final. Both sides played the game in a superb spirit and it was good to get some very positive feedback from both the referee and Glossop coaches on how well the Bolton team had played.
A final word for all 21 players on show today in Bolton Red; the coaches, parents and spectators were all very proud of your performance and impressed on how you have progressed as rugby players and young men over the season. Good luck next week; we’ll be rooting for you.