BOLTON Under-16s lost 25-17 in a friendly against touring Leicester side Lutterworth.

Bolton could only start with 14 players and played some impressive rugby with Alex Tonge starring with two tries.

The forward pack of Tonge, Brandon Booth, Joe Mackey, Darren Robinson, Joe McHugh, Max Hodgson, Dylan Heywood and Ben Knowles, complimented by backs Jack Philips, Jimmy Holland, Jordan Griffiths, Issac Woods, Harry Cleworth and Sam Hart were aggressive and dominated the early exchanges.

They built pressure, forcing Lutterworth to defend deep inside their own 22, but could not capitalise on their territorial advantage and it was Lutterworth who struck first with a try.

Bolton hit back through captain Tonge using his explosive pace and power to score two tries.

Lutterworth scored again and with mounting pressure in the Bolton 22 the home team conceded a penalty which the visitors successfully kicked to go in at half time 15-12 ahead.

The second half was played at the same ferocious pace as the first, with Lutterworth using their four subs to good effect.

They extended their lead with a penalty Bolton but Bolton responded with a break from Tonge that put his side within striking distance of the visitors’ posts.

Booth picked the ball and drove forward again before Philips slipped the ball to Holland who threw a long pass to big second-row forward McHugh who crashed over to close the gap to put Bolton one point behind at 18-17.

The game was poised on a knife-edge until the visitors clinched the victory with a well-worked try.

Bolton U13s had a convincing away win against newly-formed community club Wythenshawe who fielded a mixed u12s and u13s development team along with Bolton’s Scott Gillibrand who volunteered to play for the opposition to make up the numbers.

Ben Price put Bolton ahead after three minutes and Connor Whittle got a second try when he spotted a gap and drove over the line on six minutes.

Bolton’s pack held firm when Wythenshawe applied pressure and the visitors broke for Whittle to score his second.

The forwards continued to dominate Price capitalised on a fumble in the try area.

Sam Atherton scored the try of the day when he ran through the opposition pack and more than 60 yards.

Oliver Keogh scored twice in three minutes before half time, and twice more after the break.

Price also got two tries in succession to take his tally to four for the match and, in keeping with the pattern, Atherton went over for his second and third tries within a minute to round of the scoring.