RUGBY UNION: Bolton came away from their West Lancashire rivals with a satisfying win.

They have found Tarleton a difficult place to gets results from in the past, but they were keen to improve after the previous week’s defeat to Hutton.

The visitors started the game well thanks to clever running by winger James Howarth and centre John Keech.

Bolton’s forwards were not to be outdone and strong charges by Parrish and Brodie put Tarleton on the back foot for long spells.

The Avenue Street men eventually took the lead after a well-worked move resulted in Howarth scoring in the corner, although the effort went unconverted.

Bolton continued to pile on the pressure both in attack and defence, snubbing out several forays by the strong Tarleton side.

The pressure resulted in a further try from the back of a maul from which Bolton marched over the line, Parrish grounding the ball for an excellent team try, which was unconverted.

The second half continued in the same vein as the first with Bolton defending their lead stoutly and through solid forward work, the ball was passed out to Lovgreen to put the icing on the cake with a sweetly struck drop goal to take the final score to 13-0.

Meanwhile, Bolton Seconds enjoyed a 29-12 home victory over the Vale of Lune Fourths, building on the previous week’s victory over Hutton.

The squad was again hampered by late changes but Phil Coates had a magnificent debut at prop.

Bolton flew out of the blocks and good work from flanker Joe Smith and Andy Leigh caused the hosts’ scrum half to spill the ball which set up a great counter-attacking try for Will Swift, although Danny Barlow failed to add the extras.

Bolton’s pack, led by Mark Crow, continued to give the half backs good ball and the backs ran every move smooth although the visitors were gifted an unconverted try.

However, the hosts replied within five minutes. Excellent ball retention allowed Alan Catterall to go over for the first of his two tries before Barlow kicked the conversion.

Both sides continued to exchange blows in what proved to be an open and honest game, the referee letting the game flow and only stopping it temporarily when the ball got knocked on now and again. Bolton increased the pressureon the Lune defence even more as they peppered them inside their own 22m zone.

Lune cleared their lines, but the ball fell to Stuart Evans who beat three defenders to score beneath the posts, with Barlow missing the conversion.

Solid platforms were set by the Bolton forwards at the start of the second half.

Stephen Beasley, Dave Evans and Dave Ormes all forced the Lunescrum back on several occasions, before man-of-the-match Catterall pounced to score an unconverted try.

A Bolton player then gifted the ball to jet-heeled young winger who out sprinted their defence to score beneath the Bolton sticks, the conversion was slotted and the score was 22-12.

The Bolton players responded in the best possible way and a move which started in their own half saw Nick Sandbrook score close to the posts. Barlow added the extras.

Bolton Thirds’ poor run of form continued with a 38-0 defeat at Pendle First, although another solid performance from youngster Scott Knibb gives Bolton hope for the remainder of the season.

Bolton Fourths were beaten 5-0 at the hands of high-flying Hawcoat Park at Avenue Street. Davy Wilson impressed in his first game in five years for the club.