LITTLE Hulton Reds claimed a first win of the new season with victory against local rivals Bolton Mets on Saturday.

After three defeats in North West Men's Division Three, the Reds welcomed a Mets side above them in the table but had leapfrogged them by the end of the game.

It was the hosts who started brightest and they broke the deadlock within the first five minutes.

Their first set ended just 15 yards from the Bolton line and Lee Foster sent a delicate kick over the advancing Mets defence.

The visiting full-back was unable to collect the ball under pressure from wing Lee Parsons who then toe-poked the ball past his opponent, collect cleanly and then race over the line to put the first points on the board.

Kyle McDonagh successfully converted to give Reds a 6-0 lead.

Little Hulton had been in control early on but ill-discipline and poor handling let the powerful Bolton pack back into the game.

The pressure built and it was no surprise when Mets were back in it with their first score, Chris English scoring an unconverted try.

Reds were sloppy and started conceding penalties and the visitors were soon in the lead when Neil Walsh dived over from close range and Ken Sackfield successfully converted to make it 10-6 to Mets.

Despite the scoreline, the Reds held out as the weather deteriorated and they were back in front just before the interval.

They earned a scrum 10 yards from the Bolton line and a good pass gave McDonagh the chance to break through and score and he added the conversion himself to give the Reds a 12-10 lead at the midway point.

The second half began in near-monsoon conditions but Reds were playing down the hill at Peel Park and stepped up a gear.

After some near misses Mike Vinton was on hand to take the final pass of a great move to score out wide, though the wind prevented McDonagh from adding the extras.

Nevertheless, it was the start of a purple patch for the home side with Mike Bolton following up with two tries in quick succession – both this time converted by McDonagh to make it 28-10.

Mets were up against it but showed a never-say-die attitude to keep battling and forcing the Reds defence to stand firm.

And after their efforts were rewarded with a late consolation when Walsh produced a carbon-copy of his first try to make the final scoreline 28-14.

Reds' man of the match was Bolton ahead of the industrious Garth Hessian and full-back Mark Parsons.

For Mets, Joe Harte picked up the honour with Sackfield and Ste Hickey just behind, while top tackler was Stephen Lowe.

Both sides now have a break for Easter and return to action on April 11 when Little Hulton travel to Burtonwood Bridge and Mets visit bottom-placed Crosfield A.