Bolton U14s vs Rossendale

Date 14th Jan 2017
Bolton U14's vs Rossendale
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Weather: Cold and dry
Final Score Bolton 12 Rossendale 39
Tries: McDermott x 1, Singleton x1,
Conversions: Price x 1
Team:
Atherton, Sam
Chadderton, Oskar
Glynn, Mark
Griffiths, Blake
Hodson, Leon
Hope-Barry, Leo
Jenkinson, Tom
Keogh, Oliver
Longworth, Tom
Mallevialle, Ben
McDermott, Harry
McDowell, Sam
Price, Ben
Singleton, Logan
Whittle, Connor
Winteringham, Connor
AKA The One Where we were slow to wake up.
This was the first match following the Christmas period for Bolton; with the poor weather conditions and illness not much rugby had been played. The squad was depleted in numbers today and we started with the only one sub.
The weather was cold but dry and the pitch was in good good condition for rugby.
The matches to be played split in three periods. Rossendale won the toss and opted to receive the kick off. From the kick off Rossendale we're able to show their skill and teamwork by running the ball back, breaking tackles and good support play. They made ground up field and when they scored their first try after two minutes of play this was followed shortly afterwards by another it looked like it was going to be a ‘hard day at the office’. Bolton didn’t seem to have woken up yet and stunned by what was in front of them. Bolton’s rugby improved a little and it wasn’t until the end of the 1st period that Rossendale put 2 more tries away ending this section 22 points ahead.
The second section of the match was more evenly matched but Rossendale edged it slightly. There continued to be missed tackles that allowed Rossendale to make ground but the scramble defence was working. Rossendale got on the scoreboard first with a try under the posts that was converted. Bolton showed determination at the ruck with some excellent clearing out by Oskar Chadderton and Sam Atherton and a break up field by Oliver Keogh gave field position and when Rossendale infringed at the ruck giving Bolton a penalty 5 meters out from Rossendale’s tryline. A quick tap and pass out to Logan Singleton, who was giving 2nd row a try out today, drove over with 3 tacklers hanging on his back. This showed Bolton they could match Rossendale’s physicality. Rossendale managed one more try in the dying minute of the 2nd period.
The 3rd and final period of play proved to be Bolton’s best performance and evidence of not losing spirit. The competition was hard with big tackles going in and a couple of injuries meaning the match went down to 14 a side as Bolton didn’t have any more subs. Rossendale scored first but were not able to cross Bolton’s tryline again. It was Bolton who had the last score. With only a minute to go Bolton had a scrum in the red zone, however the scrum was reset 3 times and then an early push by Rossendale gave Bolton a free kick. It was spun wide to Harry McDermot who went over in the corner. The final whistle was blown. Bolton went down to a heavy defeat but showed they can play to a good level but must do this for the whole match not just in patches.
Next week we go away to Rochdale who are in the same group as Rossendale so should be a similar standard to today’s team.