BOLTON'S first team travelled to Ashton Under Lyne hoping to carry on with the good work of the last two weeks.

On current form Bolton should have been capable of beating an Ashton side who after a good start after promotion last season had started to find results hard to come by.

The two teams sat side by side in the middle of the table before the game. The home side however had other ideas and bossed the game throughout to win 32-6.

Bolton had plenty of possession but their options and ideas seemed lacking cohesion as the ball was constantly surrendered in or around contact.

Ashton's forwards dominated the set pieces and left Bolton with only two penalties by Guy Lovgreen to show for their efforts. Bolton must return to the training field this week to work on their match tactics and return to the playing standards set in the last two games.

Bolton 2nds also travelled to Ashton, hoping to return to winning ways. Unfortunately they got off to a bad start with the classy Ashton stand off scoring an early penalty, giving the home team a 3-0 lead after 10 minutes. Ashton were then put under the cosh with some excellent power play rugby by Bolton's forwards, with Nick Griffiths and Paul Sutcliffe particularly outstanding in the loose. However against the run of play Ashton increased their lead with a scrappy try, but missed the conversion to go 8-0 up.

Bolton regrouped and their dogged determination and resilience saw their efforts rewarded with a fine try from Leigh McDermott. Bolton continued to apply the pressure but once again Ashton managed to score and convert a scrappy try after a loose ball was not cleared by the Bolton defence. With the score at 15-5 and minutes to go before half time things were looking grim for Bolton, however a slick passing move instigated by Captain Les Towler saw young Andy Bowling score a superb try on the stroke of half time. Some tactical positional changes at half time, Bolton were looking to turn around the15 -10 deficit. Ten minutes later a bullocking run by Tom Lee saw him score a true forwards try. A penalty score followed for Ashton, to keep them ahead at 18 -15. Daryl Leach, Bolton's quality scrum half, scored a superb individual try to take Bolton into the lead for the first time in the game at 20-18 with minutes to go surely it was Bolton's victory. However due to a combination of the weather conditions and wrong options by the defence, the home side trundled over for a try with two minutes to go. The missed conversion meant that Ashton had a three point lead, with only seconds to go. Carletti had other ideas and with literally the last kick of the game launched a mercurial 45 yard penalty kick which whistled through the sticks to give Bolton a deserved 23 -23 draw!

Bolton's thirds also played Ashton and ran out 17-0 winners in a game that became fractious at times, probably due to the wet conditions.

Bolton's Vets also played at home and lost marginally to a strong Wigan Vets team 14-6. Taff Wallbank kicked two penalties to bring Bolton back from Wigan's first half score. With the teams separated by one point Bolton were unlucky not to score with a driving maul from a line out as they stopped just short of the line.

Wigan's response was immediate and despite committed defence from the home side they managed to score the all important winning score.