Didsbury TocH 20 Bolton 1st 14: BOLTON RUFC travelled away to South Manchester to play the third placed team in the league and having lost at home earlier in the season, they knew a difficult game was on the cards.
Two last minute changes and a very late departure did nothing to raise the expectations from this game. The home side kicked off playing with the slope and the wind and pressed hard on Boltons line.
Two offside infringments were both penalised and allowed Didsbury to lead 6 - 0, but after the the stalemate that followed TocH change tactics and scored after a grubber kick. It was converted to give a lead of 13 - 0.
Bolton kicked off the second half and suddenly things started to come right. The scrum ball was always won by Lancs U21 player, John Hodgkinson at hooker and the back row started to make in-roads through the TocH defence. Rucks and mauls were also going to plan and stand-off Mark Higgins took his opportunity to chip the ball through and won the chase for a touchdown.
Hodgkinson added the touchline conversion but a charged down kick gave TocH their second try D
The next 20 minutes were one of the best that Bolton have played this season and were rewarded when Andy Leigh broke from a rucj to score and Hodgkinson again converted.
Next week sees the visit of league strugglers, Old Bedians to Avenue Street, kick off 2-30.
The Thirds were outplayed 34-7 by Didsbury TocH despite making a bright start.
Bolton were unlucky not to score on a number of occasions and had a Craig Ackers try ruled out for a knock on. This let off inspired the home side who utilized their pace in the back line to score two tries in quick succession.
With Bolton chasing the game there was a bit more space for the home side's forwards but late on the first half scored two tries, both of which were converted despite the efforts of Dave Hulme and Bill Porter in the centres.
The second half was a much tighter affair with Bolton's forwards led by Dave O'Byrne gaining the upper hand over their counterparts.
Bolton scored an early second half try when Dave Hulme exploited a gap in the home side defence and raced 60 yards to touch down. Despite further breaks from Greg McMillan at fly half Bolton were unable to score further and a breakaway try by the home side sealed the game following an earlier penalty kick. The final score of 34 - 7 did not tell the story of the game.
Congratulations to Bolton School First XV who have progressed to the last eight of the Daily Mail Plate, national knockout competition for Schools rugby. They drew at Rydal School, North Wales 3 - 3, but progress to the next round on the 'away team' rule. Congratulations to all involved.
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