BOLTON Mets suffered another bad day at the office as they fell to a heavy defeat at the hands of near-neighbours Little Hulton Reds.

The Mets pinned their visitors back in the early stages but, despite good work at half-back by Ste Hickey and Mark Dorning, could not find a way through.

After applying all the early pressure Mets then conceded three tries in quick succession as Reds' Mark Parsons, Aidy Heaton and Alan Hargreaves all touched down, Wes Winder converting two to put the visitors 16-0 ahead.

Below-par tackling from the home team meant plenty more tries followed for the Reds – Parsons and Heaton grabbing their second tries and Danny Jones scoring a brace – before Mets finally got on the board shortly before the break. Neil Walsh made a strong run, cutting through tackles to touch down under the posts, making Dorning's conversion a formality.

The Bolton side turned around 40-6 in arrears and, despite Walsh's solo effort, their confidence had dissipated and they failed to hold back the tide of Reds runners, who burst through the would-be tacklers with alarming regularity.

As the Mets' energy drained away Mike Bolton, Jack Schofield and Gaz Hessian all scored tries for Little Hulton, and Heaton touched down for the fourth time. Jones completed the scoring with his hat-trick try and with Winder making 10 kicks and Ken Sackfield two the match ended in a 76-6 win for them.

Hickey was the Mets' man-of-the-match, with Walsh not far behind.

Throughout the season Mets have struggled due to a lack of experienced players and while they have failed to score points in several games they have conceded a vast quantity in plenty more matches.

While there is no lack of effort or potential in the club, Mets will hope for a change in fortunes soon. They have four matches left this season to grab the win that eludes them but things will get no easier for them this weekend as they are to host league leaders Eccleston Lions.

Kick-off at Bolton Rugby Club is 2.30pm.