BOLTON Mets ARLFC were at home to promotion contenders Ashton.

Fielding just 13 players with no substitutes, the Mets had a disastrous start when forward Paul Hickson had to go to hospital with a severe hand injury. Ashton capitalised on this, and soon started clocking up the points.

The Mets did have chances in the first half, with breaks by centre and player coach Chris Brown and prop Colin Crompton, but they struggled to break Ashton's last line of defence. A cheeky drop goal from full back Andy Bowling put the Mets on the score sheet, making it 20-1 at the break.

The second half was all one way traffic as the Mets struggled to contain the Ashton attacks. But for the tackling of forwards Crompton, Mick Booth, Stuart Rogers and backs Mark Dorning, Ralph Sherrington and Gaz Hamer, it could have been a cricket score.

The final tally was 62-1 to Ashton. On reflection 12 versus 17 against a top side, things could have been a lot worse.

Next week the Mets are at home against Rochdale Mayfield in the North West Counties Cup, kick off 2.30pm.