Accompanied by a sizeable and enthusiastic bunch of supporters the first 15 made the short journey to Orrell on a fine, if blustery, day to be greeted with excellent hospitality by the home club.

In bright sunshine for most of the game, both teams put on a display which belied their positions in the league, or was testament to the quality of the teams above us.

Scrums and line-outs were shaded by Bolton throughout and provided the backs with the opportunity to demonstrate just what they could do with good, quick ball. The excellent service of half backs Jack Robinson (forever looking for the quick tap and go) and Ben Price was rewarded with a dazzling display of open running rugby from the rest of the back line. Amazingly few handling errors resulted in tries after 9 minutes from Kieran Shacklock with an aggressive run through the middle and a lunge for the line close to the posts, converted by Ben Price, score 0-7. After 15 minutes and the ball passed through the whole back line to the left a relatively easy try for Simon Steel out wide with the conversion narrowly missed, score 0-12. After 19 minutes a repeat performance out to the right wing for Ryan McClusky to touch down near the touch line which was superbly converted by Ben, score 0-19.

The bonus point try came after 27 minutes after a turnover ball quickly from Jack Robinson to Will Bate who committed at least 3 Orrell defenders before a long pass out to Simon on the left wing to do what wingers do, score 0-24.

Obviously fed up with the wingers stealing his thunder, Kieran Shacklock decided not to pass but take on Orrell from the halfway line, bursting through early tackles and leaving everyone for dead to score under the posts, score at half time 0-31.

To their great credit the lads from Orrell came out for the second half looking like a different team and put the visitors under sustained pressure resulting in a try from a driving maul with a good conversion from wide out, score 7-31.

Bolton responded with almost calm determination and a return to the proven tactic of forwards winning the ball, giving it to the backs and let Simon Steele get his third try, with a bit more skill and determination having to be shown by him this time, converted by Ben Price, score 7-38
Within a couple of minutes Orrell again demonstrated they were not just there to make up the numbers. After many phases their persistence paid off and again scored from forward pressure close to Bolton’s line and again well converted, score 14-38.

Still only half way through the second half that was the end of the scoring but not the excellent rugby. Lots of adventurous open play and stalwart defence from both sides. The forwards have had no mention yet in this report but the old adage bears true. Forwards win games and backs determine by how many. The backs did put on a dazzling display today but there were heroes in abundance in the forwards to make that possible.

Bolton’s 1st XV next home game will be on 12th March at 3pm against Cockermouth at Avenue Street.