JOY after a league double over Aldwinians soon turned to concern for Bolton, who have added two more names to their long-term casualty list this week.

After winger Jonny Stanfield suffered damage to his knee ligaments which left him facing several weeks out, the Cherry and Whites learned second-row Louis Critchlow would also be sidelined for the remaining six games after undergoing an operation on his appendix.

Bolton’s front row has been severely hit of late, with the influential Chris Mee recently having to announce his retirement because of a blood clot.

And head coach Dave Crouch admits the loss of key first-team personnel now makes the remaining couple of months of the campaign more a case of building towards the future.

“We have suffered quite badly with long-term injuries but have been able to blood a couple of younger players, which can be viewed as a positive thing going forward,” he told The Bolton News.

“We are on the lookout for some new props now – and would invite anyone who thinks they could fit the bill down to training on a Tuesday or Thursday night at 7pm. Or come down to a game and make yourself known to us.

“Promotion isn’t what we need right now, even though we’re still fifth, the aim now is to keep building towards next year.”

Bolton chalked up an impressive 21-19 win against Aldwinians the the North Lancs and Cumbria League thanks to tries from blindside flanker Ash Cooper and outside centre Will Bate.

A late penalty from Mike Mills proved the decisive score, and Crouch was pleased with the attitude shown by his side after a disappointing performance last weekend against Oldham.

“They just seemed to want it more,” he said. “We absorbed plenty of pressure after gifting them a couple of tries but I was pleased with the way they came back to win the game.”

Bolton host fourth-placed Wigton on March 4.