BOLTON’S under-12s recovered from defeat to Rochdale as they won their next match against Tyldesley. 

In a much closer first game than the 30-5 score line suggests, Bolton were still getting used to their absences and enforced reshuffle when Rochdale opened the scoring in the first minute.

The Cherry and Whites’ youngsters gradually found their stride.

Rochdale scored a second try but Bolton’s efforts were rewarded with a try for Jack Lightbown.

Further changes followed as, under the rules of the competition, all of the squad must play but the replacements did not gel as hoped and Rochdale scored four unanswered tries out wide to win 30-5.

Bolton were far quicker out of the blocks when they faced Tyldesley, Josh Bentley-Hughes scoring within a minute and Callum Purnell going over shortly after.

A flowing move saw Daniel McGuiness stopped illegally just short of the try-line but Jack Good’s quickly-taken penalty saw the ball back in McGuiness’ hands and this time no one stopped him.

Lightbown scored in stoppage time, breaking tackles before outsprinting the Bongs’ defence to make the half-time score 20-0.

Once again Bolton put on their ‘finishers’ but struggled to get out of their own half in the second period and conceded three tries. It took a last-ditch double tackle by Henry Ainscough and Luke Parry to bundle the winger out of play to finish the game and seal a 20-15 win.

Bolton’s u14s lost 22-0 to a Fylde team with only one defeat in three years, with resolute defending keeping them out for the first 20 minutes, Fred Holt Gregson, Logan Singleton and Ben Malevialle leading the Bolton efforts.

The pressure finally told with a Fylde try from their forward line to go 7-0 ahead.

For the rest of the first half, Bolton absorbed more pressure and remained only one score behind at the break.

With no substitutes, a series of niggling injuries and tiredness cost Bolton and Fylde began to exploit the gaps opening in the defence to run in three tries to make the final score 22-0.

Bolton’s coaches hope to field a full-strength side when they face Fylde in Sunday’s Lancashire Plate final.

The u10s hosted Fylde in the last home fixture of the season and though they only had 11 players to Fylde’s 21 they closed out the campaign with a 7-6 win.

Although Fylde scored two early tries, great rucking and set-plays saw Bolton level at 2-2.

Fylde edged back in front but two more Bolton tries – from Oliver Brennand and Tom Forrest – put them ahead. Brennand’s second and a try from Corey Morgan stretched the lead but Fylde hit back to level at 6-6.

With Fylde camped on the Bolton line Morgan intercepted a pass and charged upfield, setting up Brennand for his third try, to win the game.