BOLTON RUFC kept up the pressure on North Lancs/Cumbria league leaders St Benedicts with a bonus-point victory at home to Wigton on Saturday.

The Avenue Street side made hard work of their 43-31 triumph but got the four tries they needed to stay second – three points behind the table-toppers.

And skipper Chris Cockton knows his side has to keep winning and hoping during the course of the season they can capitalise on any slip-ups.

Cockton said: "It was the result we needed against Wigton and that's all we can do – keep winning games.

"We do not play St Benedicts again until the final game at home in April so that could become a crunch game.

"Over the course of the next six months, though we have to keep putting pressure on them.

"They have a good home record like ourselves but can slip-up away and we have to hope that will happen but there is a long way to go."

The Cherry and Whites started brightly on Saturday and early tries from Louis Critchlow, on 10 minutes, and Will Bate five minutes later put them into a 12-0 lead.

But they conceded what Cockton labelled 'two sloppy tries' to fall 14-12 behind after they were both converted, albeit after injuries to back-rowers Ash Cooper and Niall Murphy.

Bolton rallied though and either side of half time they regained control.

After two penalties edged them ahead, Bate raced over the line unopposed after a midfield burst from Critchlow following a couple of quick rucks to make it 25-14 at the break.

Then, after the interval, Bate fed Kieran Shacklock who sprinted 40 metres to score his first try for the first XV in just his second outing.

The teams traded penalties before Wigton scored a try to narrow the gap.

But James Singleton went over the line in reply after a Jonny Stanfield break.

Wigton got another try late on but Bolton held on for victory.

Cockton said: "We were disappointed to concede the fourth try but we got our bonus point as well.

"We were a bit disjointed at the start but got into the lead before picking up a couple of injuries.

"Then, we conceded two sloppy tries but we responded well and the 10 minutes either side of half time probably saw us play our best rugby of the season so far.

"It was pleasing for Kieran to get off the mark as well when he got on the end of one of our best passing moves."

Cockton and his team are at home again on Saturday when they host a Whitehaven side yet to win this season.

But he is not taking anything for granted.

The skipper added: "They haven't won but you do not get any 'gimmes' so we have to focus.

"We have a couple of injury concerns so it will test our strength in depth.

"But if we perform like I know we can, there is no reason why we shouldn't get another win."