Match Report u16's Final v Blackpool

The day of the event couldn't have been better for the U16's to be in the Junior Bowl Final. The sun was shinning, everyone turned up on time and were switched on ready to play the last game of the season; a Cup Final against Blackpool. Warm up completed, the players basked in the pre-match team talk and inspirational speeches from Coaches 'Yoda' Kelly, Obi Won'Timms and Junior Chairman Steve 'The Force' Knibb.

The team entered the field of play to the encouragement of many old and new supporters as well as the Blackpool visitors assembled around the pitch.
Like Gladiators they stood in front of the townsfolk ready to take on the invaders who had swept in from the sea! Assembled before them were some of the biggest players they had met all season, including Blackpool's own Twin Towers.

Undaunted, from the kick off Bolton's finest took the game to the
visitors; to their dismay! The first10mins of action was all pressure from Bolton, with Blackpool only seeing the ball to kick it away or to end up with the decisions against them for 'over eagerness'. The culmination of this team effort resulted in a try by Liam 'Hurricane' Hampson under the posts. Unconverted; but first blood to Bolton, 5 - 0.

Bolton continued to take the game to Blackpool for the most of the first
half, but Blackpool finally exploited a gap and sent through one of the
'Twins' charging down the wing. Try and conversion score now 5 - 7.

Bolton still applied pressure and stood up to and repelled all attempts to breach their defence again. However after a tight scramble down on the Bolton line a clearance kick was charged and touched down by a Blackpool hand to take the half time score to 5 - 12.

Half time talk, inspiration renewed, adjustments made, let's go for the
second half! Unfortunately a couple of minutes later a Blackpool try and
conversion was the thing that made the Bolton U16's realise it was a game of two halves and they had better get involved! Score 5 -19.

Blackpool,despite their lead knew they still had a game on their hands with the sustained pressure applied and did attempt to spoil Bolton's discipline in the forwards and flair in the backs. The U16's kept up their spirit and determination and this resulted in new boy Mike 'Lightening' Shepherd blasting down the wing to pop it down under the posts for temporary kicker Eddie 'Tornado' Morton to convert, 12 - 19; game on with 10mins to go.

The Bolton team rallied and played the best rugby they have all season, the pack took the ball against the head in the scrum, walked the ball down the pitch and they soared at the line out to take their own and opposition ball.

The backs improvised and ran lines at all angles, backing up at the
breakdown and off loading in contact. Everything their Coaches could have wished for! This sort of pressure had to have an affect and unfortunately initially it was negative resulting in ill discipline in the Blackpool ranks needing a red card for one of them and a hospital trip for Tom 'The Enforcer' Swift as he went to the aid of one of his team mates in true rugby fashion.

Now the Bolton fire became an inferno as they threw everything in
the last few minutes of the game at Blackpool, who to their credit stood
firm. Until the last minute of play when 'The Shep' hit a running line down the wing again to put it down in the right corner for his second try of the game! With only the time for the kick left in the game could a draw force extra time - not to be, from a difficult angle, final score Bolton 17 - Blackpool 19.

What a performance from a Bolton team! Blood (unfortunately), Sweat (bucket loads) and a few sneaky Tears at the end! Nothing more could have been asked of each and every one of them. Blackpool's Coach's admitted after the game that they came expecting to white wash us and were lucky to have held on to win. At the end of the day when they left after a rousing afternoon enjoying Bolton's hospitality they also thanked the Club for the welcome they had received and the sportsmanship shown by our players and supporters.

Despite the result still a victory for all concerned and the Club.