BOLTON Mets continued their preparations for the new season in the North West Men's League with a 36-24 defeat at Telford Raiders.

The 170-mile round trip to the Midlands Men's League club proved a worthwhile exercise in strengthening areas of the Mets' game.

They achieved their goal of keeping a tight defensive line through the middle and identified work which still needs doing to improve their sliding defence.

Joe Harte and Ken Sackfield shared the man-of-the-match honours, with Dale Forrest and Ste Hickey joint winners of the top tackler award.

Mets were never winning Saturday's friendly which began with a try for Telford which was cancelled out straight after when Neil Walsh dived over from close range, Ken Sackfield converting for Mets to keep the scores level.

The game went away from Mets when they conceded three tries, but they hit back with good control from the acting half-back position to gain suitable field position which allowed Ken Sackfield the opportunity to hit onto the short ball and barge his way over.

He converted it himself to reduce the deficit to eight points at the break.

The margin increased to 20, though, with back-to-back tries and with a number of new players in the team inexperience began to tell.

It was one of the older heads who stepped up to put Mets back into the game with Joe Harte scoring two tries, the first set up by recent recruit Chris English, who was impressive at stand-off, and the second after being put through a gap by club stalwart Mark Dorning before Telford scored the final try of the game.