Last Match report follows:

20 March 2022

Bolton Colts v Southport.
Lancashire Trophy Semi Final

Bolton 12 Southport 40

Tries: Moore, Rimmer
Conversions: Rimmer x 1
Penalty Kicks :

Weather: Glorious Spring Sunshine

Referee Mr J Brooke (Manchester Society)

Atherton , Sam
Edwards, Zachary
Glynn, Mark
Halliday, Cameron
Holt-Gregson, Fred
Hope Barry Leo
Howard, Lewis
McDermott, Harry
McMenamin , Dan
Moore, Josh
Price, Ben
Rimmer, Jake
Webster, Peter
Whittle, Connor

The very last one...

All good things must come to an end . Bolton ran out at home as massive underdogs for the trophy semi final knowing that a loss would spell the end of their season after a weather spoiled end to the league programme.

Pre match news was bad with Oliver Keogh unavailable at the last minute which means that 14 man Bolton had to borrow a Southport player to complete their pack. Contrary to the form book, for the greater part of the first half, Bolton held their own. An early try for Southport was against the run of play, as Lewis Howard , Connor Whittle, Fred Holt Gregson and Sam Atherton put in big tackles. First team newcomers Jake Rimmer and Ben Price brought both brain and brawn to bear and if Southport thought that their luxury coach had brought them for an easy away day, they were soon robbed of that notion.

Bolton has spells of good pressure in the first half that better passing and awareness of team mates would have put points on the board. The loss of Dan McMenamin on 30 minutes seemed to temporarily upset the flow of the team and in the ten minute spell before half time , Southport ran in three tries to knock the stuffing out Bolton lads.

A bit of half time oratory from Derek and Wyn meant that Bolton got a grip and settled back into the second half. The loss of Sam Atherton on 50 mins through cramp meant that both teams were down to 14 men, and again that unbalanced Bolton temporarily and they conceded a further try to go don to 0-33. But then something seemed to spark. Cameron Halliday charged down a Southport kick deep in their 22 yard area to give a chance of a try. Zach Edwards jinked down the left wing and was strong in the tackle. Leo Hope Barry on the right came close with a spectacular run . It was a real blow when captain and chief playmaker Ben Price was taken off with an injury. However, heads did not go down.

The Bolton pressure was bound to result in something and on 58 minutes Josh Moore followed up his try for the seniors with one for the Colts. In the absence of Price, Rimmer stood forward to take the conversion. His kick cleared the bar by many inches to the delight of the spectating first teamers. Mark Glynn had the best chance to increase the Bolton score but was foiled within sniffing distance of the try line. Even Peter Webster almost scored but was tackled inches from the posts.

3 minutes from the end, Bolton put a better gloss on the score when Rimmer powered through to get his own try. A late final try for Southport didn’t take the shine off a brave Bolton performance and the lads can be proud of their showing today.

It has been a tough season with our squad reduced through post Covid player losses and through longer term injuries. Substitutes were a rare treat which means that the lads who have played have had to leave everything out there on the pitch time after time. Today was no exception and I hope the lads put the same commitment and effort into their forthcoming exams.

Final score Bolton 12 Southport 40