BOLTON RUFC skipper Chris Cockton outlined the importance of bonus points as his side kept up the pressure on leaders St Benedicts with a 39-12 win at Cumbrian side Silloth, writes Will Jackson.

Bolton travelled to Silloth in high spirits after four successive victories in the North Lancashire/Cumbria League. However, despite travelling with just 15 players, Bolton extended their winning run to five games and picked up a bonus point in the process.

The away side pride themselves on the prowess of their forward play and this game started in just the way they had hoped. After kicking off, they forced a line-out close to the hosts’ own line. Having won the ball, a 13-man maul drove captain Cockton over to open the scoring.

Due to the lack of numbers, Bolton handed out to debuts to senior colts Harry Stocks and Mason Lockley and they combined for the visitors second try of the game. After a breakdown close to the Silloth line, it was the quick hand of Stocks that allowed Lockley to score a try on his first appearance for the Cherry and Whites.

Manny Tailor crashed over for a third and Matt Parish scored under the posts to secure a bonus point for Bolton before the whistle for half time had even been blown. Leading 26-7 at the break after a consolation home try towards the end of the half.

Bolton ended all hopes of a home comeback after some fine penalty kicking from Matt Mills and a deserved try from man of the match Louis Critchlow put the game to bed.

With the league leaders not playing last weekend, the victory sees the Cherry and Whites move to within two points of the top, something which Cockton, believes is down to Bolton’s knack of picking up bonus points, this was their 12th of the season.

“One thing that we learned from this league when we were previously in it is the importance of bonus points. Win or lose, Bonus points can be the difference. When you look two seasons ago when we were last here, we actually lost out on the league championship because of bonus points.

“And then last season, the lack of losing bonus points, eventually cost us relegation. So this season there’s been a real focus on first, making sure we actually win the game, but then also making sure that secondly we try harder for bonus points.”

On a separate note, flanker Louis Townsend scored two tries after being selected for Lancashire under-20s against Cheshire under-20s. Townsend was the sole representative selected from a club, which doesn’t have a team in the national leagues. Townsend has also been accepted onto a rugby scholarship in America and sat his SATs on Saturday.