Under 16's Match report 4th Oct 2009

Over the last four seasons Bolton have held onto the honours in some very close matches. This year’s Bolton squad is reduced overall and due to a number of reasons could only field 14 players on the day until the loan of Mathew Ault from the U15’s – thanks for that. This still left us without any sub’s in what we knew from experience would be a physical and passionate encounter.

Right from the start it was close with the play going back and forth between the respective 22yd lines. A breakdown in Bury’s handling allowed Matty Almond to scoop up the ball and sprint 60 yards down the pitch to score under the posts on 15 mins.
Unconverted Bolton had a 5 – 0 lead.

The tough confrontational play continued from this point with Bury throwing everything they had at the home side which resulted in blood and head injuries to our team. It was then during a first half period that Bolton were down to 14 players while Josh Kay was being attended to for a knock on the head that Bury broke through and levelled the score before half time to 5 – 5.

Josh bravely recommenced the second half but all was not well and had to go off to hospital for a check up – he was cleared as fine thankfully. Bolton then played out most of the second half with 14 players. Still they stood up to the Bury pressure and only conceded deep in the period to a penalty and then a converted try. Bolton took a lot of knocks but did everything that was asked of them to stand up to the pressure.

Quite a few players would have hobbled off if reserves had been available but to a man they resolved to stay out there, shoulder to shoulder with their team mates, proud to wear the shirts they had on! Coaches and Parents rallied to cheer the lads off in the end with a final score 5 – 15 to the visitors.

Thanks to Matthew Ault from the U15’s for boosting the numbers and greatly assisting the side. Also a welcome to Danny Doherty in his first game for the U16’s, a baptism of fire but he rallied to the cause and fitted right in with the veterans in the side.

Man of the Match – Matty Almond – seized the opportunity when it came and lifted the Bolton side with a superb individual try.

Tackler of the Match – Andy Merrills – time after time hit the crucial tackles out on the wing to halt the Bury attack ‘simples’!

John Kelly