Match Preview

Keeping up with the seaside theme of last weekend, Bolton play host to Fleetwood RUFC this Saturday.

Dave Crouch's side will be looking for more of the same as they target finishing the opening month of the season with 4 wins from 5. The team have clearly dusted themselves off after the one-sided result against Bowdon on September 1st and have since notched up three wins and importantly, three try bonus points which places them 3rd in the table, albeit with Glossop just 5 points behind and with a crucial game in hand.

The fixture is the final one before Bolton benefit from the uneven number of teams in Lancashire/Cheshire 1 and take a break until they face Tarleton on the 13th October away from home.

Fleetwood have had a less successful start to their season with just one win from their three outings so far. This coming on the opening weekend at home against Southport. Recently they have succumbed to losses against Tarleton and current league leaders Altrincham Kersal, however they have managed to collect 2 bonus points in the process and their game in hand puts them in a stronger position than their current 11th position suggests.

Fixtures between the two sides have often been close fought affairs, with Bolton just having the upper hand with 3 wins and a draw from the last 5 meetings between the clubs. This weekend should be no exception to the rule and the Green and Golds will certainly produce a stern test for Rhys Pritchard's side. Unavailability will surely play it's part with five Bolton players from the Southport fixture already withdrawn, however, the selection pot will be bolstered by returns for Will Bate, Josh Holmes, Lewis Lockett, Tom Crook & Rory Biggins. At the time of writing, Dave Crouch is still to announce his team.

The weekend also brings the launch of the new 1st XV playing strip, thanks to our generous sponsors: Clearview Corporate, IDNS, LBT Brick & Facades, AE Yates, Harrison Drury, Duncan Ross & BMI Healthcare. To celebrate the launch we'll be running a Gin & Prosecco bar all day from the members lounge.