BOLTON Rugby Union Club will hope to remove any relegation doubts by winning their final game of the season against Ashton, following victory over third-placed Burnage.

The club has been rocked by the news there could be three sides relegated from the North Lancs Division One, which will depend upon a number of permutations involving teams at the bottom of the league above and play off results from other sides in the region.

For Bolton the only option to remove any doubts is to finish one place above their current third-bottom position, and that means winning their game in hand - which club officials hope to organise for Saturday - and leapfrog Thornton who are a single point ahead.

Bolton travelled to Burnage, who have enjoyed a good season but had no chance of promotion, with several players changing position as they looked to play more expansive rugby.

They started the better of the two teams, but let their momentum go and the home side scored first.

Bolton replied with a penalty and at half time the score remained 7-3 to Burnage.

After the break Miles Edwards scored first from his unusual position at stand off, his jinking run finished under the posts, leaving Guy Lovgreen the easiest of conversions to make it 10-7 in Bolton's favour.

Scrum half Santiago Castros then got involved, finishing a good move that saw prop Paul Stockton smash his way through for the try.

Bolton's dominance then brought a penalty to extend their lead further, before winger Ian McCulloch went over to score a fine try after good recycling of possession had removed most of Burnages defence, Lovgreen added the extras.

With a 28-7 lead the game was over although Bolton conceded two late consolation tries.

Bolton's second team blasted Broughton Park seconds by an extremely comfortable 48-0, including a hat-trick of tries from Mark Higgins.

Bolton's thirds lost to Blackburn despite two tries by Pat Smythe and Derek Keogh, with Ralph Hayes adding the conversions.

NORTH LANCS DIVISION ONE

P W D L F A PTS

Trafford... 22 21 0 1 541 183 42

Didsbury... 22 20 0 2 665 180 40

Burnage... 21 14 0 7 585 35 28

Eccles... 22 12 2 8 474 345 26

Heaton Moor... 22 13 0 9 482 386 26

Ashton... 20 11 0 9 410 328 22

Burnley... 22 9 1 12 376 493 19

Littleborough... 22 7 2 13 310 362 16

Thornton... 22 7 1 14 272 462 15

Bolton... 21 7 0 14 280 400 14

Bedians... 22 4 0 18 237 627 8

Lytham... 22 2 0 20 172 687 4