Bolton Rugby Club’s boys under-16s side are through to the final of the Lancashire Cup after a brilliant comeback during their semi-final against Vale of Lune on Sunday.

The Bolton boys won 22-19 to seal a date against Trafford Metrovicks in the final at Leigh RUFC on April 28.

It was a great day for rugby with a gentle breeze and mainly dry throughout.

Vale of Lune were probably feeling confident given an earlier victory in the season at Avenue Street.

However, the U16 squad this year have gone unbeaten in the competition and felt confident of their own ability.

Vale started the brighter and after some poor handling and ball retention by Bolton, were 7-0 up within eight minutes.

The visitors hit back straight from the restart with a difficult kick fumbled by Vale leading to a scrum. The ball was fed through the backs and to Bolton’s full-back Lincoln Gladwin, who cut inside Vale’s defensive line to score under the posts. The try was converted easily by fly-half and captain, Corey Morgan, to level the scores at 7-7.

The rest of the first half was error-strewn on Bolton’s part with Vale capitalising on poor handling and decision-making.

The hosts scored a further two tries, one of which was converted, and they went in at the interval 19-7 ahead.

The half-time team talk was not at all tactical, it was just about whether the boys wanted to go to a final or not?

The second half started totally differently with more control and concerted pressure from Bolton.

A penalty kick inside Bolton’s half was cleared to within eight metres of Vale’s try line and from the resulting lineout, the maul fell just short but scrum-half Leo Sandiford picked from the base of the ruck and dived over. With the try converted the score stood at 19-14.

More good handling from Bolton kept the pressure on and it was another penalty that resulted in some great backs inter-play that put winger Rohit Bhikha over in the corner. The conversion was charged down leaving the scores at 19-19 with 15 minutes to play.

Bolton continued to dominate possession with fly-half Morgan repeatedly pushing Vale back with some long probing kicks.

Vale began to push their luck and Bolton’s number seven, Tom Forrest, made repeated probing runs into their defensive line.

Eventually the pressure led to a kickable penalty, which was kicked by Morgan to give Bolton a three-point lead with six minutes to play.

Vale threw everything at Bolton’s defence and a last-play tackle into touch by hooker Ben Jackson and full-back Lincoln Gladwin ensured the victory for the visitors.