BOLTON Under-18s bounced back from their opening-day narrow defeat with a hard-fought victory over Ashton-Under-Lyne on Sunday.

The 31-28 victory lifts them to fourth in the fledgling North West Senior Colts Preliminary League D table.

With some under-17s stepping up to plug gaps left by absentees, Bolton worked hard to gain a 31-14 lead only to almost throw it away at the end.

Tom Evans drew first blood for Bolton, picking up the ball from the base of a ruck, dummying and diving across the line.

Ashton hit back with a converted try and David Price restored the lead with a penalty.

Bolton began to apply strong pressure with under-17s prop Tom Crook, Harvey Banks and Matthew Chowdhury brilliantly winning a number of scrums with great support from the second and back rows, and Ross Denvir, Callum Naylor and Banks ensuring the home side won the majority of line-outs.

It eventually forced another penalty and Price stepped up and scored a second three pointer to make it 11-7 to Bolton.

Jamie Currie scored a fantastic try converted by Price just before half time, but the 18-7 lead was cut to 18-14 after the interval.

Having contributed hugely to the game, Morgan Skeels-Caldwell and Evans came off enabling team mates Alex Greenhalgh from the U17s, and Jacob Sam Smith touched down in the corner to make it 23-14 which soon became 26-14 thanks to the boot of Price after more pressure from the Bolton pack, especially Paddy Hargreaves, Denvir and Naylor.

Bolton built on their dominance and some impessive passing saw the ball arrive at Currie who crossed for his second try of the match.

Bolton looked home and dry but Ashton never gave up, and some careless play by Bolton saw the visitors score two late tries to make it a nervous ending for Bolton.