BOLTON travelled to Didsbury as the only team to have taken points from the league-leaders this season, but returned empty handed.

They paid for a disastrous start in which they conceded two tries through a lack of concentration in defence that left them trailing 14-0.

The first came from a charged-down kick inside the 22 and the second after they failed to defend on the blind side.

Bolton rallied well and for the remainder of the game tackled ferociously and developed play well.

Brodie and Cooper drove the forwards on, and captain Abbott ran strongly all afternoon. Bolton conceded a try on the touchline late in the game but were unlucky to have paid so heavily for their early lapses.

Bolton seconds hoped to capitalise on having all their regular players back from injury but after a closely-contested first half, went down 25-7 away to Vale of Lune thirds.

Vale made the breakthrough mid-way through the first half with a well-worked try down the wing which was converted, but Bolton hit back and, after several powerful runs by the pack, second row Dave Evans crashed over. Barlow converted to level the scores but Vale edged in front at half time with a penalty.

The home side stepped up a gear after the interval and, although Bolton defended strongly, they were unable to stop the Lancaster outfit scoring a further 15 points without reply.

Bolton’s third team were only beaten narrowly when they entertained Vale’s fourth string at the start of the season but Saturday’s trip to Lancaster ended in a heavy 35-7 defeat.

The Avenue Street men ultimately paid for their lack of a clinical edge and had to defend stoutly in the face of almost incessant waves of attacks from Vale’s impressive back line.

Cracks started to appear, however, and the home side were in control by half time.

Strong running by full-back Chad Boyce and hooker Mark Townsend gave the Vale of Lune defence problems and Bolton got their reward late on when Ben Harwood produced a brilliant piece of scrum half play to cross for a try he converted himself.

A patched-up Bolton fourths produced an outstanding team performance to beat top of the table Aspull 10-5.

Centre Martin Plimmer powered his way through for the opening try and, after Aspull had levelled the scores at half time, the decisive score came when O’Donohoe rounded off an impressive team move, sprinting down the wing to score.