Bolton u 14s overcome tough Glossop side

With pitch congestion issues at Avenue Street, the u14s match was switched to an afternoon kick off with the coaching staff hoping the extra lie in for the boys would pay dividends. However from the kick off it looked like Bolton were still half asleep as Glossop gathered their own kick off and were immediately on the attack pinning Bolton deep inside their 22. Wave after wave of blue attackers were repelled, Josh Aspinwall, Ibrahim Dipoti and Marcus Crompton working particularly hard. As the ball went wide, a crunching tackle by Tim Greenwood stopped the attack, Callam McGaughey was first to the breakdown, quickly stole the turnover and set off upfield, making 60m before the covering defenders hauled him down. His back row colleagues, Harry Moxham and Owen Critchlow were on hand to keep the attack going, Robert Harris fed Jack Phillips with quick ball and Josh Parry had space to round the defenders for the opening score. From this point the Bolton forwards started to exert some control especially in the scrum. With time running out in the first half, Myles Crook at hooker stole a ball against the head allowing Owen Critchlow at number 8 to pick and break through the first line of defence, with a lovely offload to the supporting Regan Brown who nearly wriggled free of the last defender but in the tackle managed to get the ball to Josh Parry for the second score, converted by Issac Precott.

Half Time Bolton 12, Glossop 0.

The second half started much as the first finished, Glossop with a fair amount of possession but closed down at every play by the resolute Bolton defence. From yet another turnover, the rampaging Luke Bagnall set off down field with Bradley Martin in support, Lewis Warburton on his debut linked with Addison Kennedy who continued his great form by racing away from the defenders to touch down in the corner for a superb score, matched by the equally good conversion from Issac Prescott. Glossop changed tactics and tried to play in the Bolton half with a kicking game but with Bolton full back Kynan Smith in imperious form, every kick was returned with interest from one kick, Kynan took a catch at full pace, broke through the first defenders before passing to Matthew Jones, who continued the run, offloading to Issac Precott to sprint in for the try under the posts. The next score was all about strong forward play with continued pick and drives through the Glossop pack and Luke Bagnall providing the finishing touch. Glossop to their credit continued to play and battle to the end and with the last play of the game scored the try their efforts deserved to leave the final score

Bolton 31 Glossop 5