BOLTON Mets faced Garswood Stags in the opening round of the North West Men’s League Division Five, losing 34-18 in the visitors’ first league outing.

Mets had played the side from St Helens last year and, having played their first team on several occasions, were in no doubt they were in for a battle.

The Bolton side were forced into wholesale changes from their cup game a week earlier, with only seven of the 16 players from that fixture available.

With Steven Hookham making his debut and a return for Chris Clarke, it was yet another unfamiliar line up for the Mets.

The game was a tight affair for the opening 20 minutes, with both sides settling into the game and defences coming out on top. A strong carry by Sheldon Fitton saw him met firmly by three opposition defenders, unfortunately, this contact was enough to result in a trip to hospital with a broken collarbone.

Garswood managed to break the deadlock not long after the injury setback, and with a successful conversion had a 6-0 lead.

The hosts bounced back with a try of their own, Tom Cain going over from close range after some excellent forward play gave Mets decent field position. Paul Charnock added the extras to tie the scores at 6-6.

Mets were dealt another blow as Rick Ackers collapsed to the ground with a ligament tear, a huge loss at the start of new season, and devastating for a player who had spent most of last year out due to a groin injury.

The score remained tied at half time, Cain crossing the line for a second time only for the referee to adjudge he was inches short.

Head coach Sam Heyes gathered his players together at the break and praised their efforts throughout an impressive first 40 minutes. The morale was high, but with only one fit substitute left and Fitton and Ackers ruled out, they knew it was going to be a tough ask in the second half.

Garswood had a mixture of youth and experience in their squad, and this proved invaluable when a neat kick to the corner was collected by the winger who dived over. Another successful kick helped them regain the six-point advantage.

In recent years, Bolton Mets have shown some good character when behind in games, here it was loose forward Tom Bradley who dragged himself across the line to give Charnock an easy conversion to tie the scores again.

With the injuries racking up, knocks for Andrian Gribbin, Tom Bradley and Stephen Hooton added to the list, meaning the pressure began to build on the Bolton defence.

Players not used to playing a full 80 minutes, or those making a return from a layoff, were struggling for energy and it showed as the Stags made several breaks, two tries opening up a 12-point lead.

Far from down and out, Mets hit back with a delightful try from Cain. After he broke through a tackle, he stood up the full-back with some quick feet and sprinted past him to score his second of the afternoon. Having taken on the kicking duties this season, Charnock’s conversion, his third of three, narrowed the lead back to six.

But in the final 10 minutes, their efforts meant they were out on their feet, and full-back Chris Clarke was the latest to have treatment, for a knee injury. The Stags again managed to score back-to-back tries, the first a barge-over from a big forward and the second a score out wide by the winger.

The game came to end not long after, and though defeated the Mets were proud of their performance in the face of adversity, something that has become a club trait during their 25 years.

At just 18 years of age, Cain is without doubt a real talent, and the opposition coach named him as man of the match.

Tom Bradley, and veteran Gribbin, were named as runners-up, but the whole team deserve praise for the performance. Playing a pivotal role in attack, it was Charnock’s defence that earned him the top tackler award.

Mets will hope for better fortunes this week, when they travel to Wigan to face Ince Rose Bridge A in round two.