Bolton RUFC 13 Eccles 20: BOLTON travelled to Eccles determined to end a disappointing run of form but left themselves to big a mountain to climb at the finish.

The first half saw Bolton dominate the early exchanges with some good scrummaging and line out from the forwards. But a string of penalties gave Eccles the chance to advance down the pitch and slot over three points.

Bolton came back strongly to score a penalty from Guy Lovegren and only great cover defence stopped centre Dave Hulme from diving in at the corner.

Captain Nick Milnes continued to drive his forwards into the Eccles pack and create good platforms from which to attackbut ill discipline always cost Bolton, who then suffered a hamstring injury to winger John Keech.

Penalties were exchanged to make the score 6-6 but then Eccles turned the game in their favour with the last play of the first half, gathering the ball from the restart and rumbling down the pitch to crash over for a converted try.

A much more fired up Bolton team entered the second half but it was Eccles who opened the scoring, with a deep kick to touch setting up a short drive over the whitewash, despite furious claims from the Bolton team that the ball had gone dead in goal and should have resulted in a penalty in their favour.

At 20-6 Bolton should have been dead and buried but they bravely fought their way back into the match.

Hulme was denied for a second time one yard out from the tryline by great Eccles defence and prop forward Stockton also went close to adding his name to the scoresheet.

It was left to scrum half Andy Leigh to finally breech the try line from one yard to get Bolton back in the game and the last five minutes saw great pressure from Bolton but they were unable to unlock the Eccles defence.

Bolton Seconds beat Eccles 43-0, with tries from Danny Barlow, two, Leigh McDermott, two, Alex Sugden and Steve Evans.

The third team lost 19-17 to Sedgley Park.