BOLTON Ladies' first team climbed to third in North Hockey Division Two South West with two away victories in three days.

They began with a 3-1 win at Sale on Thursday – their fifth victory in a row – and followed up with a 4-0 thumping of Bowdon third team on Saturday.

Jenny Brookfield got the ball rolling at Sale with an early goal after Kerry Carinci won the ball back in Sale's 25 and released it out wide to Laura Watson who played it back to the penalty spot for Brookfield to finish.

Carinci then had a goal disallowed as it was seen to have been struck from outside the D and Sale got back on level terms with the first goal conceded by Bolton in four games.

Bolton restored their lead five minutes from half time, when Hollie Smedley reacted first when the ball broke free inside the Sale D and fired home.

Bolton came out much stronger in the second half, finding their passing rhythm and putting good moves together.

Carinci had one effort superbly saved before the pressure told and a well-worked penalty corner saw Vicky Dean play the ball back to the injector Clare Wilson to finish 10 minutes from time.

Bolton were always in control at Bowdon where Jenny Neville set up Yasmin Aldcroft to calmly lift the ball into the net for the opening goal.

Aldcroft made it two with a straight strike at another penalty corner, and Neville, Alison Toft and Brookfield missed chances before Toft got the slightest of touches to a superb top of the D strike from Carinci to make it 3-0 at half time.

Bolton goalkeeper Rachel Wilson commanded her area and kept the home team at bay when they stirred and the visitors got a fourth goal from another penalty corner when Dean slid the ball to Claire Wilson to finish.

Bolton ladies' second team had a bad day at University on Salford where they went down 3-0.

The two high-flyers in Greater Manchester Hockey League Division Two went into the game on equal points and the defeat saw Bolton lose ground in the promotion race, the defeat leaving them fourth.

Goalkeeper Megan Heyes resisted Salford's early effort but could do nothing about the first goal midway through the first half.

Bolton came out better for the second half after a lacklustre first period and the chances started to come.

Viv Lake went closest to equalising before Salford killed the game with a quickfire double.

Bolton men's first team won one and lost one over the weekend to leave them second bottom of North West League Division Three North.

A 4-3 win against Didsbury's fourth team was their first league victory of the season.

They showed great character to come from 3-1 behind with second-half goals from Keith Stanley, Sam Williams and Damien Pearse after Adam Anwar had made it 1-1 in the first half.

Pearse scored Bolton's goal 24 hours later in a 2-1 defeat to Kendal's second team, making it 1-1 when he collected a brilliant long through ball from defence by Philip Johnson, rounded two players and struck the ball through the keepers legs.

A hard-fought game ended in dejection though as Kendal scored the winner with only seven minutes remaining.

Bolton men's second team lost 3-2 at Didsbury Northern to leave them ninth in North West League Division Four North.

George Brennan put Bolton ahead after some excellent early pressure but his side conceded two goals just before half time.

Bolton piled on the pressure in the second half but were denied by the post, keeper and bad luck.

Didsbury gave themselves a two-goal cushion before Johnston pulled one back and set up a late rally from the local lads.