A solid win..

In the final arranged match of season, 20 of the squad travelled to Orrell again to avenge the recent defeat by the Amber and Blacks of Orrell. In the run up to the end of season tournaments, all 20 boys were set to play in rotation in the spring sunshine.

From the outset, Orrell hammered the Bolton line, and rucked at a pace the boys couldn't deal with. Some great tackling by Alastair Harris, Myles Garth and Ellis McNally scrambled the opposition into touch on an uneven and narrow pitch.

The forwards had to step up a gear to compete, and eventually gained parity after the exit of Lewis Picton with an ankle injury, Tom Simpson moving to number 8 and Josh Padmore joining James Harris in the engine room of the scrum.

Josh ground his way over with a typical rip and go move, and the Orrell boys seemed to wilt in the sun. Another try from Joe Cropper extended the lead, and it was all change as 7 new boys entered the fray. With Tom Platt and Owen Lewis at half back, some initial handling nerves were well countered by some great aggressive defence from both boys.

With Orrell increasingly pushing up in defence, Myles and Joe were limited by a crowded midfield with a extra pair of centres seemingly stood next to them in Amber and Black throughout the match. This wasn't to stop the Garth though, and the first glimmer of a gap was enough for the try machine to extend his seasons tally. With George Whitehead making a big hit to turn over possession, Myles put Ben Harrop over the line with a great diving finish, only for the referee to adjudge it dropped over the line. The same was to happen again as Oliver McKeown, making a break from a ruck, drove over and was denied by virtue of a harsh decision.

This galvanised the Bolton boys to win with grit and determination, Myles Garth putting the game beyond doubt with two tries well grounded, in desperation Orrell resorted to long range kicks to release pressure on their line, only for Lawson Bates and Jake Rimmer to pluck the ball from the air at full tilt and return the ball with interest.

Final score 35-0 and a great reversal of fortunes against Orrell. Man of the match to Tom McNulty for his last ditch "man and ball" tackle on a rampaging Orrell forward easily twice his size.

A great photo of 20 Bolton boys with smiles on their faces and a real pleasure to coach. A few missing through injury, but again the team rallied round and worked together throughout.