BOLTON Mets are a club on the up as they head closer to making it a quarter of a century of bringing senior rugby league to Bolton.

The Mets have been a success story with a difference – but a tale of achievement all the same – since they were formed in 1995.

They have been more familiar with the lower reaches of the amateur North West rugby league structure than the top divisions throughout their existence and have suffered more than their fair share of defeats on the pitch.

But when it comes to typifying the essence of what sport should be about there are few clubs who can match the Mets.

Despite their setbacks on the field and difficulties attracting players at times, they have determinedly fulfilled fixtures when many other clubs have not, and refused to buckle in their ambition to develop the club and the sport in the town.

Bolton has never been a rugby league town, but the the club's founders, Jack Dorning, Albert Knight and Mick Appleyard, did not let that stop them when they set up the Mets 23 years ago.

Based at the Avenue Street home of Bolton Rugby Club since 2013, they head towards their 25th anniversary in 2020 on an upward curve on the back of their most successful season for five years.

They are back in training ahead of the new campaign, but looked back at last season at their awards night when they had cause to celebrate a number of achievements including going close to making the play-offs in North West League Division Five.

Mets officials are proud of their record of fulfilling all league fixtures for the last four seasons which they believe shows the character of the club, especially as they have done so despite suffering some heavy defeats.

The team, whose head coach is Al Scarbrough and have appointed Rick Ackers as captain, improved the number of points gained and reduced the number of points against from the previous season, and in Daryl Devlin had a player who was not only close to being the top points scorer in the division but also in the whole league.

Anyone interested in joining the club, either as a player, coach or volunteer, can contact chairman Stuart Cooke by emailing at boltonmets@hotmail.co.uk or calling 07802 608256.

Full list of Bolton Mets 2018 club awards

Opposition's player of the season: Rick Ackers.

Top try scorer: Ste Hickey.

Most improved player of the season: Rob Tuppen.

Club player of the season: Darren Robinson Jnr.

Coach’s players of the season: Paul Charnock.

Players' player of the season: Daryl Devlin.