TWO Bolton RUFC junior sides enjoyed big wins at the weekend.

The Under-16s were 37-7 victors at Dukinfield, while the Under-18 Senior Colts were too strong for Marple and Glossop, winning 48-14 at home.

The victory for the U16s saw them bounce back from defeats.

Three players were loaned to a depleted Dukinfield to get the game on, but the opening quarter was a tight affair, with periods of possession and good defending from both sides.

The deadlock was broken on 26 minutes when new signing Devon Watters received the ball on the right wing after good work from Sam McDowell, returning at scrum-half before shrugging off two challenges to chalk up his first score for the club.

Bolton’s forwards were on form with a new-look second row of Nathan Wellings and Jack DeMullet working well together.

The visitors extended their lead on 31 minutes when flanker Peter Webster intercepted a wayward Dukinfield line-out and was driven over the line for his first try of the season.

The nip and tuck of the opening phase gave way to a more expansive period of play as legs began to tire and on the stroke of half time Oliver Keogh received the ball deep in the Bolton half and found an opening to run through the Dukinfield defence for a fine individual try.

After regrouping at the break, Dukinfield offered good resistance to the Bolton attack, but could do little when top scorer and winger Leo Hope-Barry received the ball on the left and pressed the accelerator to leave the defence in his wake as he opened his account.

Four minutes later Dukinfield were rewarded for their industry with a well-worked forwards try under the posts, but that was to be the high point of the match for the home team.

Bolton fly-half and captain Ben Price had been reliable with his conversions, but took a brace of tries using his speed and agility to squirm through and over the line.

The icing on the cake came courtesy of Hope-Barry’s second try and then McDowell scored the best try of the match, finishing a lovely Bolton passing move involving eight players.

The U18s continued their impressive form against Marple and Glossop.

Bolton dominated from the off against spirited opposition and scored the first try through Ed Webster.

The visitors then rallied and replied with a try of their own to level the score at 7-7.

However, that just focused the minds of the Bolton players who ran in three more tries from Lewis Picton, Robert Harris and Owen Critchlow without reply before half time to lead 24-7 at the break.

After the restart, winger Critchlow scored again before a marauding Tom Didlock bagged a brace of tries.

With the score at 43-7 Bolton took their foot off the gas a little and allowed Marple and Glossop to score a try.

Bolton, now determined not to let the match end with a score against them immediately replied with a hat-trick try from Didlock to seal an emphatic victory.