Bolton 10 Burnage 15

BOLTON were forced to play their game in hand at the weekend, against their will.

Burnage failed to turn up in October and have as yet been punished, while Bolton were instructed to rearrange the game for Saturday against their wishes, as they could not field their usual side.

The game started brightly for Bolton, who took an early lead when stand off Danny Barlow slid through a huge gap in the visitors' defence, after good work by the pack, who stole the ball against the head in the scrummage. Mark Higgins converted.

Further Bolton pressure could have led to a second try, but the game was stopped after foul play by the Burnage full back, who was sent off for kicking. The game continued to be controversial when Higgins' penalty attempt was wide, only for the referee to order it to be retaken after a Burnage player had charged at the attempt. The second effort was successful, but Bolton let the game slip over the next 10 minutes when they failed to convert pressure into points.

With ex-rugby league player Martin Burkett on at fly half for the final 20 minutes, the visitors began to nibble away at Bolton's lead with penalties. Bolton failed to control the ball and Burnage pinned them back in their own 22, where they constantly offended. Burkett's fourth penalty took Burnage in front and he rounded things off with a drop goal.

Bolton's seconds came back from behind for the second game in a row. Visitors Lymm took the lead with a converted try, but this was cancelled out by tries from second row Chris Turner and Irish student Pete Robb. Both tries were converted by Guy Lovgreen, who also added a penalty and a drop goal, as Bolton took both points with a well deserved 20-10 victory.

Bolton's thirds travelled to neighbours Leigh in the league and lost 22-0. German Stefan Graul left the field with a nasty face injury after a clash of heads.

Bolton's Vets came down to earth after last week's high score, beaten at Avenue Street 17-0 by Littleborough Vets.