Heaton Moor 24 Bolton 8

BOLTON travelled to Heaton Moor in the league on Saturday and lost mainly due to a poor start.

A promising break on the left by Bolton gave the backs a possible overlap, instead of scoring, the ball was intercepted and the home side opened with a try against the run of play.

Bolton conceded two further soft tries within minutes of each other, and only had a John Hodgkinson try to show for their efforts. A half time talk about the basics of rugby, led to a much improved second half, but the team were always playing catch up rugby.

Centres, Steve Morrison, Peter Marriot and wing Dave Hulme, began to make inroads into the home defence. Eventually Bolton crossed the try line with Bill Porter making a telling break rounding his opposite man and drawing the full back before passing to skipper Paul Hunt who scored.

Heaton Moor finished the scoring off with a penalty to push the game out of Bolton's reach. The game was over and lost due to the slow start, although the second half performance gave a sign of possible better things to come.

Bolton seconds entertained Heaton Moor at Avenue Street, and scrum half J.P. Singleton opened the scoring in the opening minute with a fine blind side break from a scrum.

Joao Soares added the conversion. Moor responded with a well worked try of their own and a further penalty gave them a half time lead 10-7. Bolton got caught at the start of the second half allowing the visitors to score two tries early on. Singleton again scored to get Bolton back in the game, before Dave Yates scored after an enterprising chip and chase.

Mark Down added the extra points to make the score Bolton 19 Heaton Moor 22. Les Towler used his experience to put a high ball up from a penalty and in the chase Bolton stole possession with captain Derek Keogh crashing over to win the game for the home side, 24-22.

Bolton's other senior sides both suffered losses with the thirds losing at home to a good Colne and Nelson side and the vets getting thumped at Wigan who gave the Bolton side a lesson in running rugby. The club is still searching for players of any level with experience or not, anyone interested should ring Les Towler on 01942 876960.