Date 17th November 2019

Bolton U16's v Littleborough U16s
Bolton 20 : Littleborough 17
Lancashire Cup
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Weather: Drizzly and soft underfoot.

Final Score Bolton 20 : Littleborough 17

Tries: Price x 1, Penalty Try
Conversions: Price x 2
Penalties: Price x2

Team:
Barrett, T
Carrol, H
DeMullet, J
Entwistle, O
Gillibrand, Shane
Gospel, E
Griffiths, Blake
Hope-Barry, Leo
Hopkinson, J
Jenkinson, Tom
Keogh, Oliver
Mallevialle, Ben
McDermott, Harry
McDowell, S
Milton, Cameron
McDowell, Sam
Price, Ben
Singleton, Logan
Taylor, L
Welling, N
Whittle, C

AKA The One Where Team performance wins over individual

Bolton U16s have played 3 Lancs Cup matches this season and have not been successful. Today they play number 4 hoping for a change in fortune. They were depleted by injuries and some parents were a little bleary eyed after Dom’s wedding yesterday. Despite this they are able to put out a squad of 21 players. Including recently signed Owen Entwistle making his Cup debut.

The match started off with Littleborough receiving the kick off and retraining possession over a number of phases but not making much ground but with Bolton’s narrow defence they were able to find space along the touchline and scored under the posts. Duly converted 0:7
Again from the restart Bolton had limited possession as but to get field position by using some forward runners and quick recycling from Logan, Nathan and Ben M. When penalty was awarded in front of the posts a decision was made to take the 3 points making it 3:7. It was looking like ‘a hard day at the office’ with a few injuries in the first 15 minutes that disrupted their structure but the lads kept up their commitment to stopping Littleborough in their tracks.
Littleborough drove up the middle of the field in a similar fashion and then found some space out wide to score a 2nd try about 20 mins into the first half.

Having stopped Littleborough scoring again it was Bolton’s turn to put them under pressure just before half time. Some quick thinking by Ben P, when Bolton had been awarded a penalty 5 meters from Littleborough’s line, taking a quick penalty he was able to dive over and score, which he then converted making it a respectable 10:12 with only a couple of minutes to the break. From the restart Bolton were able to put Littleborough under pressure and when a misjudged kick by Littleborough on their 22m line was picked out of the air by Ben P he was through to score under the post but was brought down with a high tackle. The referee awarded a Penalty Try and sent their player to the sinbin. Half time came and Bolton were leading 17:12

The second half was played in similar fashion, Littleborough having more of the possession but not being able to find a way through Bolton’s defence. The constant tackling was taking it’s toll on Bolton with a number of players coming off injured before being patched up and requesting to go back on. Players were asked to play out of their preferred positions without complaint and some swapping from the backs to the forwards. It’s hard to single out a player that stood out, as the whole team put a big shift in today, but Tom J was immense in the loose and around the rucks and has the scars to prove it. Sam Mc marshelled things behind the scrum and Ben P tried to keen his forwards on the front foot and play the game in the Littleborough’s half.
Littleborough were again able to find a little room out wide and scored another try making the score 17:17 in what was turning out to be a tight and anxious encounter. When Bolton were awarded a penalty in Littleborough’s half the option to go for goal proved the decisive score making it 20:17 in Bolton’s favour. The last few minutes were excruciating to watch as possession transferred back and forth with neither side finding a way through the defences. In the last minute with Littleborough throwing everything they had at Bolton an isolated attacker was deemed to have held onto the ball too long as Harry Mc competed for the ball. A kick to touch ended an enthralling match.

Thanks to Littleborough for a great match.

There’ll be a lot of aching bodies tomorrow but it always feels a little less sore when you have won.

Bolton R.U.F.C.

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