AN INJURY-ravaged Bolton Mets were soundly beaten 82-0 by Pilkington Recs on Saturday as the number of absentees hit them hard.

Mets went into the North West Men's Division Three clash confident after a home victory over Fitton Hill the previous weekend.

But they were hit by a couple of late withdrawals the previous night and then were forced into early changes in the game which upset their rhythm.

And the hosts took full advantage to put the game to bed early.

An early barrage gave them a 22-0 lead and despite some stubborn defending after that from Mets, they ran in two further tries before half time.

The visitors were forced into more changes ahead of the second half due to fatigue and injury and the hosts profited time and again with more tries.

Confidence drained from the Mets players but, to their credit, they kept going until the final whistle.

Second rower Neil Walsh was voted Mets' man of the match by the opposition ahead of Ste Hickey and Ken Sackfield, while hooker Paul Hancock was top tackler in just his second game for the club.

Next up for Mets is the short trip to face Little Hulton Reds on Saturday – the derby clash kicking off at 2.30pm.