FRUSTRATED at being forced out of action the previous weekend, Bolton RUFC took it out on Winnington Park, running in six tries to ease to a 45-7 win.

Bolton had been scheduled to host Aspatria seven days earlier but their old rivals from the Lancashire/Cumbria leagues backed out the day before, due to a lack of available front-row forwards.

The National Cup competition rules mean the Cherry and Whites were awarded just two points for the default victory, scant consolation for a Saturday kicking their heels instead of facing an Aspatria side renowned as poor travellers.

But Saturday’s emphatic victory, led by three tries for Jonny Stanfield, went some way to eliminating their frustrations.

Not that director of rugby Dave Crouch was completely satisfied, as he believes the match could have been won by an even greater margin, perhaps even without conceding a point.

“We overplayed in the early part of the game and got a bit too excited,” he said. “But once we settled down we played some great rugby and really took Winnington Park apart. Jonny’s second try was exceptional, he went past four defenders before scoring, it was brilliant.

“They had been confident of coming to us and getting the win – and they are a good side who are sixth in the table – but they never really looked like giving us any problems. We should have had another two or three tries in the first half too.

“I felt our handling has improved immensely and our speed from the ruck was good but our decision-making wasn’t quite right, and their try came from a mix-up in our centres.

“But we’re going along quite nicely, we’re third in the table and we’ve got a big game this Saturday, at Glossop who are fourth in the table. Their under-18s walloped ours, which is a good team, but they were superb so if some of them have moved into the first team they’ll be strong.

“It should be interesting because they have a big pack and they drive at you throughout, so we’ll look to play a fast game, ruck quickly and move it and try to get around them.” Bolton have the biggest bonus-point haul in the Lancashire/Cheshire Division One, with none of their rivals able to match the eight they have secured from their seven wins and two defeats.

That may not have looked on the cards at half time on Saturday but a scintillating second-half show, including the stunning second try from Stanfield, set them up for the extra point that keeps them seven points behind unbeaten leaders Altrincham Kersal.

As well as man-of-the-match Stanfield’s hat-trick, Will Bate touched down twice and second-row Ryan McClusky also scored a try, with Mike Mills enjoying a magnificent day with the boot, landing all six conversions and a penalty.

With the National Cup now on the back burner until February when they face a Bowdon side that handed them a hefty opening-day league defeat, Crouch is keen to maintain their current form as 2018 draws to a close, with the key being the competition for shirts.

“We have got so many players who are fighting for a first-team place,” he added. “Ryan [McClusky] got back in the team and did very well so he’s come back from being out of the team well.

“Louis Critchlow and Swifty [flanker Tom Swift] have both been missing out on a place too, so they know if they don’t perform in games and in training they won’t be in the team.

“It gives me a problem but it’s a nice one to have.”