The 1st team travelled to Cumbria to face 3rd placed Keswick, some were optimistic for the match but others travelled just for the day out and a good laugh.

Bolton kicked off and it was a frantic start with pace in both back lines. Simon Steel had a fantastic start to the game and looked like a very menacing player when the ball came out to his wing. Neither side was able to break the deadlock, with both teams seeming very determined to get off to a good start and not give anything silly away. After 15 minutes the Bolton defence gave way and Keswick’s number 11 was in for a try, which saw them take a 5-0 lead. On the 20 minute mark tempers were very high, which you would expect in a game like this, leading to Keswick’s number 17 and Bolton’s Will Bate both seeing yellow and taking 10 minutes to cool off.

27 minutes in, with both teams down to 14 men, Keswick’s back line once again showed why they are 3rd in the league and the opposite winger was in for his first try. Having missed both conversions the score stood at 10-0.

Bolton finally got their chance to get some points on the board with a short range penalty for Ben Price to step up but unfortunately he didn’t get the wind right and missed.

With both teams now back to full strength it looked like the half was going to end with Keswick taking a 10 point lead but Bolton were determined to not have a scoreless half and 1 minute before the whistle Simon Steel was in for his first try, the half ended 10-7 to Keswick.

The outstanding player for Bolton for the first half had to be Paul Leigh leading the pack brilliantly by showcasing several times the definition of a chop tackle.

The second half kicked off and Bolton started the exact same way they ended the first half and Ben Price scored a superb team try but missed his chance to convert, so the score stood at 10-12 to Bolton. The tables really had turned and every time bolton had ball in hand they looked like they could score, the forwards now wanted to prove their job in the pitch and Paul Leigh was in for Bolton’s 3rd try which brought the score to 10-19 to Bolton.

However, very shortly after, Keswick replied with a try which brought the score to to 15-19. It looked like the last 25 minutes very going to be very tense and the game could go either way, but Bolton scored 2 very quick tries, the first from Simon Steel and the second from a fantastic interception from Ben Price. The score now stood at 15-33 to Bolton.

With the game looking as good as over with 15 minutes to go and Keswick needing to score 18 points, Bolton made a substitution and shuffled a few different positions around. Keswick built up a little head of steam and scored 2 tries of their own but this was only a consolation as just after they scored the referee blew the full time whistle. The Bolton boys were elated and couldn’t believe the score line. The player of the match went to Paul Leigh who had a fantastic afternoon in the red and white of Bolton.

All in all, it was a fantastic day out and fantastic win with great scenery.

Next weekend sees Bolton travel to face the might of Rochdale and then back to Avenue Street to sign off the season in style on the 23rd of April.

Tries: Simon Steel x2, Ben Price x2, Paul Leigh
MoM: Paul Leigh