BOLTON Mets aim to celebrate their 20th anniversary next year with a season at the right end of the table.

Mets were the only open-age rugby league team in the town when they were founded in 1995 and have undergone many obstacles to remain in existence over the last two decades.

They have been on the verge of going out of existence many times over the years but have remained alive due to the determination to keep open-age rugby league alive in the traditional football town of Bolton.

A move to Bolton Rugby Union Club's Avenue Street two years ago further cemented their place in Bolton's sporting fabric, and a gradual increase in the number of players enabled them to register two teams this season for the first time ever.

That team only played four games during the campaign just finished, and the first team ended their season second bottom of the North West league Division Three leaving them in danger of relegation depending on the outcome of a league reshuffle during the winter.

But whatever division they are in, the Mets don't intend to mark the 20th anniversary with failure.

Secretary Stuart Cooke said: "If we're relegated we'll be looking to get promoted next season, and if we are still in this division we want to be in the top half.

"We started this season great guns and although it went downhill from there we fought on to the end.

"We'll be back pre-season training in a few weeks and having a recruitment drive although we aren't short of players.

"We're hoping to register two teams again and keep on building."