Bolton slip again

Bolton made a disastrous start from the kick off, when the ball was dropped and from the ensuing play the home side powered over the line from close range.

And it was looking like a re-run of last season's heavy loss to the Stockport outfit when they fell ten points behind within as many minutes, as a lineout led to another try.

Bolton however started to boss their heavier opponents in the scrums and with the ball being moved around the home side started to puff.

Neil Brookes closed the deficit when he dummied and went over for a good try.

A penalty to each side gave the half time score Heaton Moor 13 Bolton 8.

With the wind on their backs Bolton felt confident of a return to winning ways.

Despite lots of pressure they could not break the home side down and some excellent patches of rugby, really deserved better.

The game became very tight and Bolton's Kev Spencer was sent to the cooler for ten minutes.

Heaton Moor scored a further try against the run of play, leaving Bolton no option but to throw everything into the game.

They responded by scoring though full back Steven Kriel after several passages of play.

Bolton sensed a chance and constantly pinned Moor back in their own twenty two.

Resolute defending by the home side mixed with decisions made in the heat of the moment left Bolton possibly taken some wrong options. Heaton Moor lost their stand off when he was sin binned for a cynical trip on Brooks.

Prop forward Hartwig Driemeyer gave us hope as he set off on one of his now trade mark runs, he went from the Bolton twenty two, the length of the field until he narrowly hit the whitewash with his elbow.

Heaton Moor knew they had to win the lineout and their experience ran the clock down, so the kick to touch was to signal the end of the game. Bolton left the field extremely disappointed and must win their next league game if they are to stay in the top half of the table.

There where many positives, the scrummage was immense against much heavier players and once the team had settled from the bad start the huge islander playing back row was kept very quiet, by James Brodie and Kyle Green.

An injury to Peter Hackin gave Bolton the chance to give Tom Keech his introduction to first team rugby and the club is looking forward to what

will be his full debut next week.

The side take a break from league action and play in the third round of the Tetley Vase.

Their opponents are Wirral side Anselmians who will provide tough opposition as they currently top South Lancs with an unbeaten record.

HEATON MOOR 18 BOLTON 13

Bolton's good start to the season is now counting for very little as yet another victory slipped from their grasp.

Bolton made a disastrous start from the kick off, when the ball was dropped and from the following play the home sides large Samoan number eight powered his way over from close range.

He repeated this feat minutes later, scoring from the back of a catch and drive at a line out.

Ten points down in as many minutes it looked like a re-run of last seasons heavy loss at their Stockport hosts.

Bolton however started to boss their heavier opponents in the scrums and with the ball being moved around the home side started to puff.

Neil Brookes closed the deficit when he dummied and went over for a good try.

A penalty to each side gave the half time score Heaton Moor 13 Bolton 8.

With the wind on their backs Bolton felt confident of a return to winning ways.

Despite lots of pressure they could not break the home side down and some excellent patches of rugby, really deserved better.

The game became very tight and Bolton's Kev Spencer was sent to the cooler for ten minutes.

Heaton Moor scored a further try against the run of play, leaving Bolton no option but to throw everything into the game.

They responded by scoring though full back Steven Kriel after several passages of play.

Bolton sensed a chance and constantly pinned Moor back in their own twenty two.

Resolute defending by the home side mixed with decisions made in the heat of the moment left Bolton possibly taken some wrong options. Heaton Moor lost their stand off when he was sin binned for a cynical trip on Brooks.

Prop forward Hartwig Driemeyer gave us hope as he set off on one of his now trade mark runs, he went from the Bolton twenty two, the length of the field until he narrowly hit the whitewash with his elbow.

Heaton Moor knew they had to win the lineout and their experience ran the clock down, so the kick to touch was to signal the end of the game. Bolton left the field extremely disappointed and must win their next league game if they are to stay in the top half of the table.

There where many positives, the scrummage was immense against much heavier players and once the team had settled from the bad start the huge islander playing back row was kept very quiet, by James Brodie and Kyle Green.

An injury to Peter Hackin gave Bolton the chance to give Tom Keech his introduction to first team rugby and the club is looking forward to what

will be his full debut next week.

The side take a break from league action and play in the third round of the Tetley Vase.

Their opponents are Wirral side Anselmians who will provide tough opposition as they currently top South Lancs with an unbeaten record.

Bolton 2nds were caught cold again with the visiting side taking advantage of a lethargic home side and ran in three quick tries in the first 20 mins.

At 19-0 down Bolton finally woke up and started to play some rugby with flanker Kieran Hunter's powerful run resulting in him scoring under the

sticks - unfortunately full back Michael Singleton missed the conversion.

Bolton's forwards began to dominate the game and after some good work by second row Nathan Partington, Bolton's other flanker Andy Swain scored a short range try which was not converted.

Just before half time Eagle's hooker was sent off for an innocuous offence, this led to uncontested scrums a move that helped the visitors as the home forwards where on top.

With 14 men the visitors started the second half as they did the first and caught Bolton cold with two tries, one conversion and a dropped goal in the opening quarter.

At 31-10 down it wasn't looking good for the home side when centre Dave Hulme had to go off injured, yet another tactical change called by stand in skipper Andy Leigh saw the home side rally and finish on a high with tries by Lloyd Green and Phil Houston - both of which were

converted by Singleton.

The home side were once again unlucky and the final score of 24-34 was an unfair reflection on their effort!

Bolton travelled over to Bury for a crucial derby only to find that they were to play what appeared to be their seconds instead of the 3rds which

showed the respect the opposition had for Bolton.

Bury 2nds played with the weather conditions in the 1st half hoping to score heavy and then consolidate in the 2nd half, but where shocked by the play of the Bolton team who came out to match them in every facet of play and as the 1st half was coming to a close it was a basic mistake from the Bolton full back which gifted the home side an unexpected lead 7-0.

Some strong discussions went on at half time to sort out a few teething troubles and with the team bonding together with a belief of a historic

win to come the battle commenced.

Strong performances from Chris Barr in the Pack and Derek Keogh in the backs saw Bolton press the home team deep into their own half who only ventured out once through a penalty only to see Bolton push them straight back.

After 30 minutes of sustained pressure Bury gave away a penalty which Stuart Paul converted leaving the score 7-3.

Bolton went through a 10 minute period when they decided to fight amongst themselves instead of targeting the home team.

With Bolton in the ascendancy the game looked to be swinging away from the home team who brought on another 2 substitutes which didn't help as Bolton's belief was still strong enough to feel a win was possible even though the time was running out.

Bolton who had several passages of play which involved every player and proved that team play is always better than individual skill pressed the home team back deeper into their own half and with seconds left to pay a well drilled move by the pack sucking in several outside players saw the ball go down the line for the captain tricky dicky Braithwaite to score from 10 yards out the try wasn't converted but it didn't matter as the final whistle went with the score 7-8 in favour of Bolton.

Bolton's 4ths lost heavily to a strong Warrington side, and the vets served up a try fest against Wilmslow running out 53-24 winners as the

ball was constantly on the move as both sides played with open rugby in mind.