Bolton Bulls RFC Under-14s opened their season with a narrow 10-5 loss to Warrington RFC despite controlling much of the game.
Bolton’s dominance in possession and territory was clear, but they were unable to fully capitalise on their opportunities, ultimately falling short in a match they largely controlled.
Warrington opened the scoring with an early penalty, giving them a 3-0 lead.
But Bolton responded with determination, applying pressure through their powerful scrummaging unit. Jacob Luhar, Adam Gallagher, and Harrison Barlow were outstanding in the scrum, repeatedly driving Warrington back the full metre-and-a-half allowed, keeping their side on the front foot.
Their hard work paid off when Saxon Youngman powered down the wing and crossed the try line in the corner after a well-executed move, bringing Bolton level at 5-5. The conversion was missed, but Bolton’s momentum was building.
Several players stepped up into new roles for this game and excelled. Daniel Entwistle, usually a winger, took on the hooker role and delivered precise lineout throws, while the backs - Finn Davies, Jack McLaughlin, Joel Browne, Luca Levene-McCann, Malachai Pennington and Raphael Furtado - successfully ran through strike-plays for the first time in a competitive match, showing great creativity and cohesion despite their lack of experience using them in games.
Warrington soon responded with a try of their own and a conversion, pushing through Bolton’s solid defence to take a 10-5 lead.
Despite this, Bolton continued to dominate the scrums and applied pressure in the lineouts, with Luka Svandise and Joel Read making crucial plays to disrupt Warrington’s possession.
Defensively, Bolton were superb. Meta Uney Carr and James Peters led a defensive effort that kept Warrington pinned back for much of the game.
However, a series of penalties and a late lapse in concentration allowed Warrington to hold on to their slim lead as the final whistle blew.
While Bolton were beaten, their performance showed immense promise.
The team dominated scrums, executed several strike-plays successfully, and saw many players thrive in new positions.
With more discipline and a sharper edge in attack, Bolton are well-positioned for success as the season progresses.
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