CHRIS Cockton got the response he was looking for as Bolton banked a bonus point from their 52-24 defeat at league leaders Birkenhead Park on Saturday.

The Cherry and Whites skipper was critical of his team's performance in the previous week's home derby defeat by Eccles and it was a much-changed line-up that took the field on the Wirrall – including the return of the club's senior chairman JP Hardman, who stepped up from the third team for his first first-team appearance since March 2013 to shore up the front row.

And although they were unable to avoid a somewhat predictable seventh successive defeat against one of the North One West pacemakers, they did enough to run in four tries to ensure they came home with a reward for their efforts.

The target now is to maintain the momentum as they into a three-match run against teams in the lower reaches of the division – Wilmslow, Wigton and new Brighton – looking to pick up points that could take them clear of the relegation zone.

Despite a bright start at Birkenhead, when their backs looked particularly dangerous, Bolton were facing a heavy defeat after conceding three converted tries to trail 21-0 after just 20 minutes.

But they produced a characteristically spirited response with fly-half Mark Doherty conjuring a terrific short pass to the onrushing Rhys Pritchard to swerve round two defenders to score under the posts. Doherty added the extras and the visitors began to look a more confident outfit.

With Doherty pulling the strings and wingers Jonny Stanfield and Spencer Pettit giving solid performances, the home side knew they had a game on their hands.

Even so another converted try just before half time gave Birkenhead a 28-7 lead and the change round.

Cockton and coach Nick Holmes used their half-time team talks to urge their players to push for the valuable consolation of a bonus point but the Wirrall men had other ideas and, using their rolling maul to good effect, racked up four more unanswered tries.

Far from dispirited, however, Bolton were stung into life and after good pressing by Stanfield, a positive call by Cockton to go for the corner when awarded a penalty and Louis Critchlow taking the ball at the subsequent line-out, the opportunity fell to Andrew Crimmins to fire a quick pass to Doherty who raced in for the second try, which he duly converted.

Maintaining the momentum, John Stryker put Bolton on the front foot straight from the kick-off and, from another line-out Doherty released Nick Smith to crash over under the posts.

Now inspired and with the all-important fourth try within their grasp Gaz Pritchard provided the impetus and Stanfield the finish when he charged down the Birkenhead full-back's attempted clearance kick to register well-deserved first try.

The home side's power brought them two further tries in the last 10 minutes, but Bolton left Birkenhead with something to show for their efforts while relegation rivals had suffered defeats.

Jack Robinson, Pettit, Crimmins and the Pritchard brothers were impressive for Bolton – as were vice-captain Ash Cooper and established forward Critchlow.