Bolton 1st Fifteen belied their lowly league position to push high-flying Winnington Park all the way at Avenue Street on Saturday. Despite being on the wrong end of the 13-23 score line Bolton can take significant positives from the game.

On a day when the ferociousness of the tackling overshadowed the quality of the attacking play Bolton were undone by their indiscipline at the breakdown and their inability to obtain good quality ball from their misfiring line out routines.

Bolton’s game plan hinged on a fast start and taking the game to “Park” from the off. Unfortunately this didn’t quite work out as planned. A series of penalties conceded by Bolton saw them fall behind to a converted penalty and then on 14 minutes a converted try. The Winnington Park kicker, Cam Flanagan, hardly missed a beat all afternoon and ultimately proved the difference between the two sides. Momentum was very much with the visitors.

It took Bolton until the 20th minute to breach the opposition’s twenty two metre line and they at least grabbed their first toe hole with a penalty converted by Ben Price. Unfortunately more delinquent play at the breakdown and a high tackle led to more penalties gratefully accepted by the visitors. With 32 minutes on the clock they extended their lead with a well worked try by youngster Ryan Snow, once again converted by the metronomic Flanagan. Bolton now trailed by 3-17 and it looked like the bleak conditions off the field would be matched by the final score.

On 35 minutes Bolton’s fortunes looked to have swung following an interception try from stalwart Alex Waddicar who galloped 70 metres to score and leave the score at half time 10-17.

Bolton started the second half as they had intended to start the first. The forwards began to dominate in the scrum and the backs led by the ever present Will Bate started to stretch the opposition. For 20 minutes Bolton rarely left their opponents half and belief surged through the team. The lead was cut to 4 points with a Price penalty and the smell of victory was in the air for the home team.

The response from “Park” showed why they currently sit third in the league. For the first time in the second half they responded to Bolton’s period of dominance. A 10 minute spell of intense pressure in and around the home sides 22 led to an offside yellow card for Louis Critchlow and another converted penalty for Cam Flanagan. Bolton were down to 14 men and trailed 13-20 with just 12 minutes remaining.

Bolton’s defence held firm and with just 8 minutes left to play, on a rare sortie into the opposing half of the field, they were awarded a penalty for offside. Alas the kick was pushed wide by the strong wind and the scores remained at 13-20.

With less than 5 minutes remaining both teams were feeling the effects of the heavy pitch and even heavier tackle count. An inevitable Bolton penalty and even more inevitable conversion by Star of the Match Cam Flanagan left the final score 13-23.

The next game at Avenue Street will be on Saturday the 26th at 2.15pm when the visitors will be a St Benedict’s team who currently sit just 2 places above Bolton in the league. All to play for and all will be warmly welcomed.