30 January 2022
Tyldesley u18s colts v Bolton
Conference Match 5 Division G
Tyldesley 41 Bolton 28
Tries: Price (x2), McDermott, penalty
Conversions: Price (x3)
Penalty Kicks :
Overcast. Surprisingly cold
Referee Mr J Rooke ( Manchester Society)
De Mullet, Jack
Edwards, Zachary
Glynn, Mark
Halliday, Cameron
Hodson, Leon
Holt-Gregson, Fred
Howard, Lewis
Keogh, Oliver
McDermott, Harry
McMenamin , Dan
Moore, Josh
Price, Ben
Rimmer, Jake
Webster, Peter
Whittle, Connor
The one that was a game of two halves
Bolton colts ventured across the M61 Tyldesley in the knowledge that a win would put them in second place and still in the running for the title.
A full XV was fielded with the return of Leon Hodson and Jake Rimmer to the side, but Bolton had a strangely disjointed start with little to no communication and a lack of pressure from the breakdown allowing Tyldesley’s big lads the space to power through. Three tries in the first 15 minutes gave the home team a 17 point lead before Ben price got a try back after a long pass out wide from Rimmer.
Instead of this igniting the Bolton side, the disarray continued and two further tries were conceded in quick succession.
On the stroke of half time, a stroke of luck for Bolton as the Tyldesley full back was found to have impeded a Bolton player chasing a grubbed kick and a penalty try was awarded as the last action of the first half which finished 29 to 14 to the visitors.
It was clear to the coaches from the on field display that despite playing together for the last 10 years the Bolton players had never actually met each other, so at half time, proper introductions were made and a much improved side ran out for the second half.
Although the first points of this half went to Tyldesley, Bolton steadily grew in confidence and as Tyldesley were appealing for an optimistic knock on from the referee, Bolton took advantage through Harry McDermott to pull a try back. Again, Bolton almost immediately conceded another try. The final points of the game belonged to Bolton as Price scored a fine solo effort and converted the try himself to leave the final score at 41-28.
Only the most myopic spectator would claim that this was a classic Bolton performance, but as is now common the second half performance was much better than the first and we out-scored Tyldesley in the second half, but a poor first half had left far to much ground to make up.
Only three games left in the league! Next match 13th Feb v Widnes at home.
Tyldesley 41 Bolton 28