Bolton RUFC – Under 12s Match Report – Sunday 6th February 2011

Bolton Squad: Stefan Austin-G, Nathan Collins, Jamie Curry, Adam Hackin, Freddy Hayles, Thomas Heatherington, Liam Marham, Marcus Openshaw, Finn Parker, William Plant, David Price, Ben Ray, Adam Shine, Sam Smith, James Val-Brookes, Jonathon Wallis.

Bolton Scorers:
Tries: Sam Smith (2), Nathan Collins, Ben Ray.
Conversions: Ben Ray (3), David Price
This was an outstanding game of rugby played by two highly motivated teams. In this hugely competitive encounter no Bolton player took a backward step and every one of this team should feel very proud of the way they performed today. Huge thanks to Mark and Pete for their efforts over recent weeks to keep up moral when so many games were cancelled.

The weather was dry and conditions underfoot were firm, the wind was straight down the pitch and Bolton chose to play into it in the first half. With Mark and Pete’s words, “hit them hard from the start” ringing in their ears they kicked off. Tyldeseley caught the ball well but Stef chased hard and tackled the catcher into touch to give Bolton a first line-out. A series of mauls followed with Bolton in the ascendency, recycling good quality ball for the backs to run with. A slick handling move saw Stef and David release Freddie who was well tackled into touch. From the line-out the Tyldesley fly half knocked on under pressure from Adam Hackin and Adam Shine and Bolton were awarded the scrum. Bolton pushed hard at the scrum and gave Sam quality ball, hands in the ruck after he was tackled gave Bolton the penalty near the Tyldesley line. Jonny took the crash ball at the penalty, Sam in support ripped the ball clear and went over unopposed. Ben Ray confidently converted (0 - 7).
After the kick off Bolton were put under intense pressure, Tyldesley, not expecting to be behind threw everything at them but the Bolton defence was outstanding. The forwards worked extremely hard but Liam stood out as he continually drove bigger boys back. Whenever Tyldesley broke loose they were stopped in their tracks, Tom putting in a great tackle on his opposite number. Bolton overturned the ball and Sam, Adam Hackin and Ben broke down field, Ben producing an improvised overhead pass back to Adam Hackin that was reminiscent of Matt Dawson in his prime. Bolton continues to play flowing rugby with Will, Marcus and Jamie passing and supporting with great confidence. Nathan started to take control in the loose, realising he had the measure of the opposition up front and leading by example, he ripped the ball from a dominant maul and made good progress up field. Tyldesley are a good side and did not give up, they won a couple of penalties for infringements in the loose and broke down field. Bolton chased back and Ben and Nathan saved a certain try with a strong tackle to touch. Finn threw a great ball to Jonny who tapped back to Sam who released to Finn down the touch line with little space and he was tackled into touch. From the line out Tyldesley broke, Jamie took his man down with a strong tackle but the ball was released and Tyldesley scored. The conversion was successful and despite a very dominant start it was all square. (7 -7)
From the kick off Tydesley made a strong run though it was becoming clear that Bolton were not intimidated by the players that had dominated this fixture a year before as they tackled their hearts out. A turnover was picked up by Jonny who fed Ben who linked with Adam Hackin and Bolton were making progress again. The end of the first half was completed as it began with dominant and fair but aggressive tackling, in this case by David and Nathan who took their man to touch.
Half Time Tyldesley 7 Bolton 7
Bolton secured the ball at the kick off and the backs made good yardage downfield, the forwards came in to secure the ball and won an attacking scrum with fantastic contributions from Liam, Stef and Adam Shine. David put in an attacking kick from the dominant scrum win and chased his own kick to tackle the defender into touch near his own line. Adam Shine won wonderful line out ball and the ball went down the line to Will who jinked his way towards the Tyldesley line. Bolton won a scrum and piled the pressure on but Tyldesley’s defence was fantastic. At an ensuing ruck, Jonny secured good quality ball and Ben went on a mazy run to the line only to have the ball knocked from his grasp at the last moment. Bolton continues to press with James and Marcus making exciting runs. Eventually Tyldesley showed signs of weakness and a careless high tackle gave Bolton a penalty in an attacking position. David kicked to touch and Bolton had a line out near the Tyldesley line. Nathan secured the ball from the line out, Bolton forwards combined to drive the maul forward and Nathan peeled off to score. David added the extras. (7 – 14)
An error from the kick off gave Tyldesley an attacking scrum but Bolton pushed them off the ball and gave Sam a chance to attack. From the breakdown Jonny picked up the ball and made 40 metres downfield before recycling great ball that allowed Sam and then David to put Ben over for a try. Ben converted his own score. ( 7 – 21)
From the kick off Marcus took the ball and made huge inroads into the Tyldesley defence. An attacking line out saw the ball go down the line with James and Marcus linking and Tom was unlucky to be stopped short. Tyldesley would not give up though and came back strongly, attacking hard and going close before Will came up with a try saving tackle. Penalties were exchanged as the game became ever more physical and Nathan once again took control in the loose. Tyldesley continued to build pressure and despite heroic try line defence eventually their scrum half managed to dive over for the score. The conversion was once again successful. (14 – 21)
With little time remaining David kicked deep from the kick off and the Tyldesley full back cleared to touch. Finn, despite feeling the effects of a really physical encounter in the front row continued to deliver perfect ball in the line out. The next few mauls and eventually rucks produced more quality ball for Sam at scrum half and he broke from the base and fought his way past three defenders to score the final try. Ben converted once more. ( 14 – 28)
The Bolton U12s have put themselves on the map! This was a hugely enjoyable match to watch and the boys should take great pride in defeating a team that scored more than 50 points against them last season!
Well done to one and all!