BOLTON RUFC skipper Chris Cockton hopes his side can close the gap at the top of the North Lancs/Cumbria League on Saturday when they play their game in hand against lowly Whitehaven.

The Cherry and Whites gained ground on second-placed Aspatria with a fine 56-3 bonus-point victory against a rejuvenated Silloth at Avenue Street last weekend.

And they can leapfrog them with another win on home soil.

But he is again warning against complacency after the recent shock reverse to rock-bottom Ashton-under-Lyne underlined the need for full focus.

Cockton told The Bolton News: "We learnt the hard way at Ashton that you can take nothing for granted.

"As I've said, I think that was a wake-up call for us and we know we have to be concentrated this weekend.

"If we play like we did on Saturday it is definitely a winnable game for us.

"We need to attack with the same vigour and come out of the blocks firing like we did against Silloth."

Bolton go into the game having bounced back in style from that defeat at Ashton.

And they needed the result with all the other sides in the top six also registering wins.

It was a performance that pleased Cockton with eight tries scored by seven different players as the points were shared about.

Stand-in skipper Will Bates crossed for two tries while Ryan McClusky, Louis Townsend, Nick Sandbrook, Jonny Stanfield, Alex Waddicar and Jack Robinson also scored.

And kicker Mike Mills had a 100-per-cent success rate with eight conversions from eight, albeit with one in off the upright.

"The coach wasn't happy one went in off the post," Cockton joked.

"Seriously, though, Mike is in great form.

"I've said before we are fortunate to have two great kickers in Mike and Mark Doherty but the way Mike is performing at present, it is hard to see him not continuing those duties for a long time.

"It was a great day for us on Saturday as well with the scoring shared around.

"It's a testament to our game plan that we had seven different try scorers.

"Last year we were maybe too reliant on one or two players scoring but we now have the whole 15 involved from set-pieces and open play.

"It's pleasing we have such a good team ethos.

"We had the bonus point tied up well before half time and it was a great response to the Ashton defeat after the players showed real form in training.

"It was an important win, too, with all the main challengers also winning, though we gained a point on Aspatria.

"We have Whitehaven then De La Salle at home and that is a big game because they are still in the running to challenge.

"If we can win on Saturday and then beat De La Salle, we would be right up there."

Cockton hopes to be back in action this weekend after concussion ruled him out against Silloth.

But one of last Saturday's star performers, Niall Murphy, will miss out.

The skipper explained: "I am just waiting for the doctor to confirm I can return.

"We had a lot or personnel changes through injuries last week and unfortunately we will have to change things again with Niall going off injured against Silloth.

"He took a nasty blow to his knee. We are waiting on scans but it could be anything from two to six weeks."