u16s have fun in the sun

Bolton made the long trip over to a very sunny and warm Tarlton on Sunday for the first league game of the 2013-14 season, it was good to see so many parents and lads arrive so early in plenty of time to make the most of the Tarlton hospitality. Bacon butty score 9 out of 10 I think

The boys led by coach Paul and manager Peter ably assisted by the expertise of Gareth led an intensive warm up session that left them in no question that it was now time to perform and do their best

Just after 11am with the sun cracking the flags around the club house and the Bolton spectators and parents forming a stand of collapsible chairs the squad of 20 boys proudly came out to a volley of shouting and encouragement, resplendent in their new kit.

Team Captain Will Brindle had the last few words to say to the lads as they formed a circle in the middle of the pitch before performing the loudest squeeze ever, and everybody settled down to watch what we all knew would be a great game.

The travelling spectators were not disappointed as from the Tarlton kick off there was a shout for the ball which must have put the fear of god into any faint hearted locals.

The ball was passed with ease and a growing sense of confidence from forwards to back to the left wing to give Firth Lord the chance to open his legs and have a run, which he did passing player after player to score the opening try, 5-0.

From the kick off Tarlton tried in vein to put the ball deep into the Bolton half, only to find a barrier in the form of Matty Ashton standing in their way, what a tackle, the Tarlton forward literally was stopped in his tracks by Matty taking him out of the game and wondering why he had bothered to get up that morning.

Eventually the ball came to Adam and from full back he ran past the majority of the Tarlton squad’s flailing arms simply brushing them aside with consummate ease to score the second try which he converted himself for good measure 12-0

The game was only 10 mins old and Tarlton tried again to put the ball deep straight to the forwards who were waiting for a chance to have a go themselves, following some great passing and support play and tremendous rucking when one of the lads was tackled to the floor Will McCambridge stepped over the line to score 17-0 and only 12 mins on the clock.

The next ten minutes saw Tarlton string a few passes together and gain ground to challenge the Bolton 22 for the first time, a few “words” from Tom McCormick to his opposing hooker off the ball was noted, but not by the ref, and the Bolton squad were moving forward again, great passing pressing up to the ball line, superb tackling from everybody ( trying to emulate Matty’s crunching one earlier in the game know doubt ) gave Ryan the opportunity to have a run and score 22-0

The last try of the first half was down to the whole team and typified the day, from a line out at the far side of the pitch Jordan caught the ball soaring almost a meter higher than the opposition ( as Christa’s photos showed ) pass down to Joey Gore at 9, along the line to Josh Holmes some clever footwork and a nice pass to Levi Walsh, back inside for Mikey Latham to make the most of the space created and with three of the lads in black to beat no problem for this lad, score 29-0 and half time whistle after the conversion by Adam.

The second half started with a few of the old hands off the pitch but with the new lads a couple their very first league game Connor Orrell, Jake Lever and Harry Kay in a Bolton shirt picking up on the energy and confidence that was evident in the team, the spectators had nothing to worry about, in fact they slotted in like seasoned professionals. The two Harry’s Kay and Stocks were excellent at 8 and 9 respectively. It was superb to see Harry Stocks back in a Bolton shirt after such a long layoff with injury after injury. Jack O’Kane, not to be out done, got himself into the act with a 20m bust straight down the middle leaving a trail of broken Tarleton tacklers in his wake!

Normal play was soon to be restored when from a loose ball in the middle Will Mac raced over the line to score his second try of the game 34-0 carrying several tacklers with him en route.

The next section of the game saw Tarlton coaches and parents ( who had been very quiet up till now ) encouraging their team to do better and perhaps we switched off for a few minutes , they almost scored, only some tight defence put a stop to any thoughts they may have had about getting the ball over the whitewash. From this play a break away came through the middle led by Josh with his fellow backs supported by the mighty forward line. The ball was picked up from the floor by Jacob Walker, who remembering his idea last season of trying out for the wing started to power his way forward helped by the two Wills. The ball squirted out of the mêlée into the hands of George Weston who took it on again, awesome rucking by Harry K in support and a pass from Harry S to Mikey, then to David and to Will B to drive up to the 22 and pass to Levi who was screaming on the wing like his life depended on it. Still a lot to do and 20 yards to go but Levi remembered his training and skills learnt from last season to step past 5 players to score the try of the match 39-0

The Tarlton heads were starting to drop and from yet more pressure play Ryan decided to punish them even more by going on one of his rampaging runs round the backs chased by a couple of men in black who did not stand a chance, but had a go none the less, to score under the posts for his second, easily converted by Adam 46-0

The game was drawing to a close but the Bolton Boys had not finished or scored enough tries and from even more rampaging play by the whole team the ball came to the wing to give David the opportunity to score a well deserved try closely followed by the whistle to bring the game to an end. Quite how David squirmed through the defence and then carried a player twice his size over the line we’re not quite sure.

Final score was Bolton 51 Tarlton 0

A new chant was started in the changing rooms of “Peter Gore’s barmy army” with the lads revelling in their win and all thoughts of the last few season’s defeats a distant memory

Man of the match awards went to:-
Parents Player Matty
Players Player Jordan
Coaches award Joey

Roll on Ormskirk on 20th October and be warned the boys from Bolton with elephants on their chests are coming