DESPITE 14 wins in a row, Bolton look like promotion from the North Lancs/Cumbria division will have to be won the hard way – through a play-off.

Since a defeat to Wigton in early December, the Cherry and Whites have been an unstoppable force, beating everyone before them to storm into second place, scoring seven tries in their latest victory, 43-21 at Tarleton.

However, though they have beaten De La Salle home and away, the table-topping Salford side lead by four points going into the final weekend of the regular season.

And Bolton head coach Dave Crouch is not expecting Della to slip up when they round off the year at home to Keswick.

Meanwhile his players have a tricky final fixture at Trafford Metrovicks, a game they go into knowing defeat could open the door for third-place Aspatria – who have a game in hand after they host fourth-placed Wigton – to nab second spot and the place in the play-offs.

“It’s looking like our only chance of promotion is to go into the play-off, which would take place at [South Lancs/Cheshire runners-up] Liverpool St Helens,” he said. “Della will more than likely win this weekend and the ball is in their court. Meanwhile we’re hoping for a favour from our friends at Wigton when they play Spats.

“It should be an interesting weekend for the top four and we’ll go into it on the back of our 14th straight win, we’re in good form and scored seven tries last Saturday.”

Bolton were clinical and virtually secured victory by half time on Saturday when they led 24-7, courtesy of Josh Holmes’ two tries and one each for Will Bate and Chris Cockton.

Man-of-the-match Bate and former captain and hooker Cockton both also touched down after the interval, and scrum-half Jack Robinson scored the seventh, a terrific solo effort after breaking from the base of the scrum.

Although Tarleton scored two consolations late on, Crouch was satisfied with yet another fine afternoon’s work.

“We played really well, I’m very pleased with the work rate,” he said. “We just let rip after we’d been pulled back to 7-7 by dominating the outside with pace and good handling and had it just about won at half time. We played at a good tempo and the work we’d done in improving our off-loading paid off.”

Their final game at Trafford sees influential pack leader Gaz Pritchard return to the squad, joining Manny Tailor and Jonny Stanfield on a strong bench, though Mike Mills is ruled out with an arm injury, to be replaced at inside centre by Andy Wood.

“Gaz coming back is very good news for us,” Crouch added.

“If we play our game – at pace – we’ll be okay, we’ve got a strong team out, our fitness is good so we’ll see if we can make it 15 in a row and hopefully make the play-off, at least.”