BOLTON u13's were hoping to keep up their 100 per cent record going into their away match against a well-drilled Preston Grasshoppers side, and worked hard to secure a solid victory.

The Bolton backs had a flying start with Oliver Keogh running in two tries in the opening four minutes.

Levi Waite and Ben Price, returning this week from county duties, marshalled the team well while Bolton's forwards showed particular strength in clearing out from the ruck, with Shane Gillibrand, Connor Whittle and Connor Winteringham putting in the hard work phase after phase and George Jackson, Sam MacDowell and Mark Glynn showing the way with great tackles against bigger opposition.

Preston pulled two tries back to get on level terms before Keogh claimed his hat-trick – with only 13 minutes on the clock – to put Bolton back in front.

Sam Atherton produced another immense tackling performance and was in the right place to touch over to take the score to 4-2 on 20 minutes.

Again, Grasshoppers fought back, but Bolton began to put some daylight between them before half time with Leon Hodson scoring his first try of the day before Keogh ran over for a fourth time to put Bolton 6-3 up at the break.

For the first time this season the Bolton pack had met their match, but good recovery work from Tyler Maley to steal the ball allowed him to run in a try early in the second half.

Keen to get in on the hat-trick glut, Price ran on to collect his own kick to put Bolton 8-3 up. Hodson scored his second shortly after to leave Bolton in a hugely dominant position before they were reduced to 12 men for a time and were forced to reorganise, which they did effectively.

Preston did use their numerical advantage to score two tries, but Hodson and Price completed their hat-tricks to make the final score 12-5.

Bolton will welcome Heaton Moor to Avenue Street next week hoping to continue this blistering form.