U14s make hay in the sunshine

On the Under 14’s final performance on the First Team Pitch before it is re-laid over the summer the Under 14’s built on their game against PGH before Easter and some hard work over the holiday to register a brilliant victory over a side we have only beaten by a single score earlier in the season.
Thanks needs to go to our visitors who arrived two men down but willing to play. Also, David Warren, Nat Hill and Gregor Kirk need a huge THANK YOU for helping out the Oldham team by playing and working really hard for them.
Danny Turner was captain for the day on his return to the side and also started the game in the unfamiliar role of left wing, however, to show the versatility that won him an award for the game he also spent equal time at Stand Off and Centre as the game progressed.
From the kick off Bolton looked up for the contest and though the opening exchanges were fairly even it was invariably the red of Bolton that had a slight edge over the red and white of Oldham. Strong runs by the visitors Number 1 tested the home defences but Joey Gore nailed an early visiting runner which seemed to set the scene and gave the lads a “they shalt not pass” mentality.
After a couple of good breaks by both Ben Thomasson and Josh Holmes it was left to Ryan McClusky to open the scoring with a scintillating break down the right wing which he run in under the sticks to allow Elliott Morgan to tack on the extras (7-0).
For a while things were again even with Oldham taking advantage of their larger players to bust down the middle while Bolton used their backs more with some good breaks from all the numbers 10 to 15. Not wanting to be left out of the spotlight the Bolton forwards upped their game and a strong scrummage from Jacob Muyaya, Elliott Morgan and Jordan Ashton gave secure ball which Wills Brindle exploited to rumble down the right flank to score leaving defenders scattered in his wake (12-0)
The coaches changed the back line to give Josh Holmes a chance to experience life behind the scrum and he though the position was brand new to him he worked hard both with and without the ball and sealed his run at scrum half with the first of a hat-trick of tries which Elliott again converted to make the score 19-0.
Oldham again came back at the home side and worked their way down the pitch but two back to back brutes of tackles by winger Levi Walsh knocked them off their stride and just a moment or two later quick hands saw Ryan again in space to blister across the dead grass to score once more and with Elliott successful from the tee the half time score was 26-0.
A great first half performance with contributions from all positions and with both Jacob Walker and Jacob Muyaya making impacts whilst sharing the propping role. However, the best was yet to come and with a little bit of advice to keep tackles down and on their feet at the breakdown plus oodles of encouragement from the coaches the lads lined up for the second half.
With Nat Hill back in the fold but needing a breather it was the turn of the forwards to have a little bit of re-organisation and so Jordan Ashton moved into the hooking role with a Jacob on both his left and right and with Gregor Kirk kindly swapping onto the Oldham side to help out Elliott dropped back into the second row alongside Wills McCambridge.
As was to be expected Oldham started the second period strongly and for a short while defence was the key with the unsung heroes on the flanks Firth Lord and Max Loham shining through with assistance from Josh Holmes and particularly Ben Thomasson wider out. Joey Gore continued with his newly discovered tackling prowess while Wills McCambridge and Jordan Ashton were both just quietly brilliant.
Levi Walsh got the chance to show what he can do with ball in hand and boy what can he do! From just a metre’s start he powered through tackle after tackle and just refused to be put to the ground as he left Oldham would-be tacklers strewn over 30m of pitch. It was only by sheer weight of numbers that his run was finally stopped but this game space elsewhere on the park and allowed the lads to drive deep into the visitors 22. From the resulting scrum Wills Brindle picked up and powered on to cross the line for his second score. Poor Adam Kazmi got the short straw with the attempted conversion from wide out and couldn’t improve the score (31-0). However, it was almost Adam’s time to shine.
Nat Hill entered the fray once more, but this time in home colours and immediately made his presence felt with a strong and determined bust down the middle following a couple of tackles that “enforcer” Firth Lord would have been proud of.
Perhaps sensing he was about to get a rest from the coach Joey Gore broke down the left wing a deft pass from an impossible situation saw Wills McCambridge romp 20m down the line with only his tightrope walking skills denying him a certain score. This was Joey’s last act for a moment but Michael Latham came back onto the pitch and with the backs re-organising once more it was his good work that gave Adam Kazmi some space to out flank the defence for the first of his tries (36-0).
Over the next 10 minutes Adam stole the show with break after break and two further touch downs. To complete his hat-trick with three consecutive tries; perhaps he also got a little bit of revenge on kicker Elliott by scoring wide out each time to make the conversions extremely difficult (46-0).
Josh Holmes was the next name on the score sheet bursting 60m to round a tiring defence and gain dot down wide out on the right (51-0).
Ben Thomasson was next in the act for a well deserved score. Without constant tracking and work by the Oldham Man of the Match Ben would most likely have recorded his own hat trick but to be fair Ben’s tackling was equally impressive and so it was very pleasing to see him getting the better of his nemesis for once and extending Bolton’s lead to 58 points with a little help from Wills Bridle’s boot to record his first conversion of the season.
As the game entered the final moments Oldham made a last herculean effort to cross the home line. The visiting left wing bounced through a series of tackles and his enthusiasm galvanised his team mates to press forward. However, the Bolton lads’ tails were up and they worked and worked for each other and if a tackle was missed there was always two team mates there to help out and knock the runner back in his tracks. On this rock Oldham’s final attack floundered and with Joey Gore feeding Josh Holmes the man of the match kicked the ball “down town”. Despite being the last minute of the game Bolton’s fitness showed and with Michael Latham leading the charge and Ryan McClusky, Ben Thomasson and Danny Turner in the vanguard the Oldham cover has driven backwards and a penalty won 10m out under the posts. Arriving in the nick of time Josh Holmes took a quick tap and with Danny Turner as ever in support Josh ghosted under the post to complete the scoring. The final honour went to Joey Gore to sail the ball through the posts and round off the lad’s performance with a 65-0 victory.
All 19 players had performed superbly none less than David Warren who played the whole game at full back for Oldham and whose tackling and running shone through.
Gregor Kirk was awarded the Top Tackler trophy for the best tackle of the game even though it was by a Bolton player on a Bolton Player as Gregor guested at second row for Oldham and felled a rampaging Wills Bridle in full flow with the sort of tackle that he puts it time after time on the training paddock. Ben Thomasson, Joey Gore, Michael Latham, Firth Lord and Max Lohan also deserve plaudits for their defence though it was great to see everyone working hard to “nil” their opposition and that was as pleasing to the coaches as the 11 tries.
Danny Turner and Jacob Walker picked up the other awards for the day. Danny was always in support and could have had up to seven tries had another pass been made. It was also great to see him back to his strong and determined running in a Bolton shirt and especially with a broad smile on his face. Jacob made a telling contribution in both loose and also against a well drilled Oldham front row and with his front row colleagues Jacob Muyaya, Elliott Morgan and Jordan Ashton brought Bolton back into contention in the scrums and loose and gave the backs a platform to run wild.
Looking all round the pitch everyone put in great performances. Adam Kazmi was magic at full back, Wills Brindle ran as we’ve been hoping he would from Number 8 and there must be several Oldham players having nightmares about having to bring him down. Levi Walsh was outstanding on the left wing whilst Ryan McClusky, on the right, put in yet another display to be proud of. Bothe second rows played especially well and it is amazing to think that Gregor was playing only his 4th ever game and making his first starting performance and Wills McCambridge was making only his second appearance back after a very nasty injury. Nat Hill’s performance in both coloured shirts was also one he should be well proud of and it was excellent to see everyone giving their all for the Bolton cause and to know that each position has good cover and competition for starting shirts.
The final comment deservedly goes to Josh Holmes who played both half back roles with aplomb and while I’m sure he’d be the first to agree that the scrum half role might need a little more polish his all round attack and defence made the choice of man of the match a formality.

To round off a superb day the lads went from the match to the Junior presentations where the awards were made for the season.
Joey Gore received the recognition as Parent’s Player / Clubman of the season for a hard working year where he has always been there helping his mates out, distributing the ball well and being the unspectacular but essential glue to hold the team together.
Most Improved / Coaches’ Player went to Adam Kazmi for a brilliant season which has seen him grow in stature all year and was rounded off by today’s hat-trick and scintillating sunning performance.
The Player’s Player award was picked up by Ryan McClusky and was well deserved for a year that has seem Ryan’s name become one of the first on the team sheet each week and it was great to see a relative newcomer to the side be so obviously well respected by his mates.
It would have been nice to be allowed to award more trophies as we have had some great performances throughout the a season that has been more than difficult at times but has brought all the lads together as a tighter more focused unit playing some excellent and entertaining rugby.
Perhaps I’m biased but I don’t think we could ever hope for a nicer set of lads and parents and it was great to see everyone reap the rewards of determination, hard work and no little skill today.