BOLTON’S indoor training during the enforced winter break paid off when Guy Lovgreen landed a last-gasp penalty to halt Windermere’s second-half charge in its stride.

The Avenue Street men looked sharp and were quick to take control of the game, making inroads into the Windermere half.

Excellent running from Beasley cemented Bolton’s early dominance, which was rewarded when James Howarth crossed the line after some excellent play in the backs by Jeremy Rhys and Danny Joseph.

They continued to impose themselves and Joseph crashed over the line to make it 12-0 at half-time.

The Cumbrians attacked more vigorously after the break and it took some steadfast defending to deny them an early score.

But they gradually chipped away at Bolton’s lead until they eventually drew level at 12-12.

However, just as the game seemed to be slipping away from Bolton they applied a sustained spell of pressure and won the 79th minute penalty from which Lovgreen sealed a hard-earned victory.

Bolton 2nd XV were unfortunate their efforts went unrewarded when they came away from Rossendale 2nds with a 13-5 defeat.

The Bolton defence, under pressure from the big Rossendale pack, was breached after five minutes but it was a contentious score with the home side’s try scorer appearing to ground the ball in a double movement.

With the conversion added, Bolton had an early seven-point gap to breach, but they responded positively and reduced the arrears on 25 minutes when the ball found its way to Chris Singleton who chipped over the Rossendale defence to touch down. Danny Barlow missed the conversion.

With the game on a knife-edge at 7-5, Bolton ran hard at the Rossendale defence and were unfortunate not to break the line after strong running from man-of-the-match Chris Mee, who was making his comeback from a longstanding injury.

But the home side landed two penalties to put the game safe but ended the match knowing they had come close to losing only their second game of the season.

Thompson, Hill, Spencer and Plimmer were outstanding in the backs as Bolton Thirds gave title-chasing Thornton Cleveleys 2nd XV a run for their money before going down 13-3.

Thornton’s classier back line proved the difference between two teams who were not at their after the mid-winter lay-off.

The visitors led 8-3 at half time but Bolton launched a spirited fightback after the break, making frequent incursions into the visitors’ 22, only to be held up repeatedly short of the line.

Their forward dominance was clear to see, but wave after wave of attacks were thwarted by the stubborn Thornton defence before the visitors secured the win with a late try.