BOLTON Rugby Union Club skipper Chris Cockton still believes his side can avoid the drop from Division North One West – he is just gutted he is powerless to help after injury ended his season prematurely.

The Cherry and Whites succumbed to a fifth consecutive league loss against leaders Birkenhead Park on Saturday, going down 43-7 at Avenue Street.

And to make things worse, they lost Cockton to a dislocated elbow and Louis Critchlow with a torn medial cruciate knee ligament and the pair will miss the final three crunch matches.

Cockton is hugely disappointed he cannot be out there battling for survival alongside his team-mates and admits it is a tall order to avoid the drop now with so few games remaining and the club still in the bottom three.

But while it remains mathematically possible with fourth-bottom Eccles on the same number of points as Bolton, Cockton is staying positive.

The skipper told The Bolton News: "We have three massive games now and I would love to be a part of them but unfortunately it's not to be because of my injury.

"I was on the line tackling trying to prevent a try and my elbow popped out.

"I was taken to hospital by ambulance and am now in plaster for a month.

"It has ended my season and I am gutted I cannot be out there with the lads.

"We also lost Louis Critchlow to a torn cruciate ligament injury and it is symptomatic of our season.

"Injuries have killed us this year and it is a big ask now to stay up.

"But it is still possible and I am sure everyone will fight to the end."

Saturday's defeat saw Bolton register just one try, through Spencer Pettitt, as the table-toppers took charge.

The Cherry and Whites were down three tries to one when Cockton was stretchered off and while disappointed with the final outcome, he conceded the gap between the sides was evident.

He said: "Birkenhead came with a structured game plan and did their job well.

"They were physically strong and difficult to play against and they showed exactly why they are league leaders.

"They are one of the best sides we have faced at this level and Saturday was another learning curve for us in a hard season."

Cockton is hopeful Bolton can turn it around with two of the final three matches on home turf.

He believes if they survive, they can use the experience this season to fire them on next year.

The captain added: "It will be a big disappointment if we go down because I know if we can survive, we can kick on next season now we know the standard at this level.

"We can still do it with Eccles on the same points – we just have to better them each week now.

"Our next game is the last away match at Wilmslow and we beat them at home so it is a game we feel we can get points from.

"Then, after a break for Easter, the last two are at home so hopefully we can tot up enough points."