A RUGBY club is counting the cost of a vandal attack which has thrown its fixture programme into doubt.

Louts ripped down new posts at the home of Westhoughton Lions Rugby League Football Club.

Committee members today branded the vandals "morons", and fear they could have to scrap games or play elsewhere.

Coach John Brownlow said: "If these lot think they're so tough, they should come down and use their energy playing rugby rather than smashing stuff up.

"They seem to think that after they've had a few drinks and it gets dark they can do whatever they want."

Mr Brownlow found one of the posts had been ripped out of the ground when he arrived at the ground over the weekend.

The £900 posts were erected in September after the club - the only rugby league club in Bolton - was granted money by Bolton Council to develop the sport among youngsters.

Around 40 children play the sport at the club's ground on Southfield Drive.

Mr Brownlow added: "We will be able to pay for a replacement out of our own money, but it will mean diverting funds away from somewhere else.

"We already have enough problems with dog fouling and litter on the pitch."

Police have made two arrests in a crackdown on louts who caused mayhem around Bradshaw Cricket Club at the weekend.

Officers on patrol in the area on Friday night arrested one 15-year-old and one 16-year-old youth after a man was attacked on Bradshaw Road at 11.15pm.

A gang of youths punched the 22-year-old man in the face before following him home and smashing his front window.

The 15-year-old youth was cautioned and released and the 16-year-old was released on police bail.

Police mounted extra patrols after benches were smashed at the club last week in the latest of a string of attacks by vandals which have left the club thousands of pounds out of pocket.