Bolton U16s - 17 - Lutterworth U16s - 25

Bolton played host to a touring team, Lutterworth RUFC who travelled from Leicester to play the U16s.
Being half term Bolton could only start with 14 players but they played some great rugby. The forward pack of Alex Tonge, Brandon Booth, Joe Mackey, Darren Robinson, Joe Mchugh, Max Hodgson,Dylan Heywood and Ben Knowles, complimented by the backs of Jack Philips, Jimmy Holland, Jordan Griffiths, Issac Woods, Harry Cleworth and Sam Hart were aggressive and dominated the early exchanges building pressure and forcing Lutterworth to defend deep inside their own 22. Bolton couldn't capitalise on the territorial advantage but it Lutterworth that struck first with a try.
Bolton struck back through the captain Alex Tonge using his explosive pace and power to score under the posts.
The Lutterworth team were disciplined and played fast attacking rugby using their big centres to score again and with mounting pressure in the Bolton 22 the home team conceded a penalty which the visitors kicked. An exhilarating first half saw the score at 12-15.

The second half was played at the same ferocious pace as the first, with Lutterworth able to use their 4 subs to great effect. Scoring first from another penalty Bolton feared the floodgates would open, but a break from Alex Tonge took the home team to within striking distance of the visitors posts, Brandon Booth picked the ball and drove forward again before Jack Philips slipped the ball to Jimmy Holland, seeing space on the wings Jimmy threw a long pass missing Jordan Griffiths and finding the big second row forward Joe McHugh who crashed over for Boltons 3rd try. This score closed the gap to 1 point at 17-18. The game was now poised on a knife edge and it was the visitors that clinched the game, with a well worked try Lutterworth drove through the valiant but tiring defence to win the game. Final score Bolton 17 - Lutterworth 25. Special thanks to Max Hodgson from the U15s for stepping and helping the team.