Under 16's Match report 28th February 2010

Today’s match was to be no different. Bolton ran out with only 15 players so each of them knew they were there for death or glory till the end.

Bury immediately tried to put the pressure on Bolton through their larger forwards. But only a few minutes in the Bolton scrum produced a good platform for Scrum Half Kelly to feed out to Timms at No.10 who saw a gap and went for it achieving a good distance over the gain line. Quick hands out to the wing and then reversed back in and out again got Matty ‘Billy Whizz’ Almond racing down the left wing to score. Bury were stunned!

The pressure then boiled over at a following breakdown resulting in a Bolton player being the one left ‘handbag in hands’ when the Official turned round and receiving his marching orders. Bolton played on still soaking up the pressure until the second quarter of the game when Bury finally broke through and scored. Five minutes later though another great backs move swept through and Bury were again behind after a great team try finished off by James Timms. The rest of the half was then back and forth with Bury unfortunately gaining the upper hand three more times before the break to end the half 22-10 in front.

The second half was more of the same physical encounter but Bolton kept their composure under the conditions and pulled back another try through Andy Merrills; first score for ‘The Meercat’. Why he had to celebrate a short while later by being emptying his stomach is a mystery (unless it was a hair ball?) but he came back on and played out the game! Bolton were camped on their 5yd line for long periods but withstood the pressure for major portion of the match. Ultimately only having the players on the pitch available and the hard physical nature of the game took its toll and Bury took the final score to 46-17 at the whistle.

Highlights of the game; the way the forwards stood up to everything thrown at them by all concerned, getting up from contact time after time and hitting back hard, the way the backs clicked as a unit playing for one another unselfishly, the way the team kept its self-control. Injuries shaken off and every one of them wanting to get back into the fray to support their team mates and fert Club! Even Sam ‘Martini’ Kelly after Timm’s clearance kick hit him full in the face from a few feet away – shaken but not stirred!

Man of the Match – The Backs – worked brilliantly together today and made the try’s from nothing.

Tackler of the Match – Sam ‘The Blocker’ Kelly – took out Bury’s No.8 from a 5yd scrum single handed causing the ball to spill in Bolton’s favour as well. Little meets large and the blonde bombshell comes out on top!