BOLTON'S under-12s ended unbeaten from a three-way challenge against Sale FC and Rossendale.

First up for the young Cherry and Whites, on a pitch narrowed due to frozen patches, was hosts Sale FC and they were pegged back early on.

Fierce tackles flew in from the Bolton forward line with trio Tyler Davies, Patrick Markey and Euan James the standout players.

The hosts looked like rabbits caught in the headlights as they failed to sustain the flood of pressure and the tries flowed.

Two scores apiece for Markey and Thomas Darbyshire set the win up before Euan James and Jack Vickers inflicted more misery on their opponents as Bolton raced into a 6-0 half-time lead.

Sale got into their rhythm in the second half but it was not enough to stop Darbyshire scoring his hat-trick to complete a resounding 7-0 win for the visitors.

It was a much tougher second game against a Rossendale side who proved difficult to break down.

The first half was even but Bolton looked the likelier to score.

Mistakes then started to creep in as the Bolton players suffered from fatigue and relentless pressure from Rossendale.

In the second half, Rossendale remained on top and will be kicking themselves for not getting their noses ahead.

But credit must go to the Bolton youngsters who resisted the pressure.

Rossendale twice crossed the try line but still could not score and in the end for Bolton defence proved to be the best form of attack as they avoided defeat in a game that ended 0-0.