BOLTON’S brilliant first-half display was enough to see off a determined challenge from a physical Garstang outfit.

Two converted tries from Danny Joseph and a penalty from Guy Lovgreen gave Bolton a commanding 17-0 lead at half-time in North Lancashire Division One’s bottom-of-the-table clash.

The second half was a different story, with both sides tiring, more space was available in attack, which Garstang benefited from to score two late tries and ensure a nervy final five minutes for Bolton, who seemed intent on throwing away their lead by missing tackles and poor organisation.

However, the Cherry and Whites hung on for a hard-fought victory which lifted them above Garstang in the table, and with four of their five remaining fixtures at home, second-bottom Bolton will look to move up the table.

Earlier, Bolton had taken a deserved their lead, with Joseph’s first try epitomising the adventure the visitors continued to show despite the horrendous conditions.

The try came from an excellent offload from Stuart Evans, which Joseph gathered 30 metres from the Garstang line and, after selling a dummy to the full back, sauntered under the posts.

Bolton U14s lost 10-0 at League One neighbours Bury in a cup derby. Bury, with the wind, scored two tries in the first 10 minutes of the second half to progress into the next round.

Bolton rallied but, despite a fair bit of pressure, they lacked a little bit of composure to take advantage.

Bolton Under-13s were knocked out of the quarter-finals of the Blacksticks Plate after going down 50-17 at Blackburn.

Rob Wilcock, pictured, opened the scoring when he ran under the posts and captain Nathan Felton converted.

Bolton lost both Daniel Hill and Tyler Corless through injury as the visitors went into the break trailing 29-12.

Ed Caragher scored a consolation try for Bolton after a sterling run by Andrew Jolly but, as the injuries piled up, the floodgates opened as Blackburn book their place in the semi-finals.