BOLTON men's 1st XI were denied an impressive scalp on a rain-sodden Harper Green pitch as high-flying Chorley & Leyland twice came from behind to draw.

The match almost never took place as heavy morning rain left the pitch flooded and required the Bolton team to brush off the water before the delayed start.

Sixth-placed Bolton drew first blood against the side which started the day second in North West League Division Three North when outstanding play from Tom White created an easy goalline tap-in for Max Frost to score his first goal of the season.

Within two minutes of Chorley & Leyland equalising Bolton again took the lead, Damien Pearse drawing a couple of defenders away from the D area to give James Robinson the space to score his fourth goal of the campaign.

After again conceding an equaliser Bolton pressured the visitors and looked the more likely side to win before the heavens opened and flooded the pitch once more, forcing the umpires to bring the action to a premature end five minutes before full time due to an unplayable pitch.

The encouraging draw and performance continues Bolton's good run which sees them unbeaten in their last five games after starting the season with three defeats in a row.

Bolton ladies 1st XI belied their bottom placing in North League Division One as they went close to taking a point at second-placed Brooklands Poynton Ladies 2nds.

After going two goals down in the first half Bolton made their high-flying opponents fight hard for the victory with an impressive performance.

The local ladies paid for a slow start by falling behind after 15 minutes, and despite a sizeable improvement after that the deficit doubled when they conceded an untidy but deceptive shot.

That kick-started Bolton into life and they became the dominant side without being able to convert their chances.

They went closest with a shot that struck the crossbar just before half time and built on the momentum after the break, finally converting one of numerous chances and penalty corners when they were awarded a penalty flick due to a Brooklands player falling and blocking the ball on the goalline.

Katie Bent scored with a tremendous flick into the top corner two minutes from time but her side were unable to go on and grab the equaliser they deserved.

Bolton men's 2nds suffered their first defeat of the North West League Division North Five North/South season with an absolute drubbing at the hands of promotion rivals City of Manchester 2nds.

The two teams started the day with identical records in the league, but there was only one team in it after that as Manchester stormed to an 8-1 victory.

The home side were three goals up after just 20 minutes but Bolton pulled one back from a penalty corner which was converted by defender Phil Johnston.

Bolton looked like they could get another in the early stages of the second half but once again failed to convert their chances and conceded another against the run of play.

Pushing forward in search of goals, the visitors got caught repeatedly on the counter attack as City of Manchester racked up four quick late goals.

Bolton Ladies' 3rd XI outclassed Horwich in a 4-0 victory in Greater Manchester Hockey Association Division Three

Two goals from Katie Hibbert and one each from Surmaiya Badsah and Fiona Clarke capped an impressive performance against the second-bottom local rivals in which Bolton kept the pressure on from start to finish and played some outstanding hockey.