BOLTON RUFC ended their barren patch at last with a hard earned 6-5 win at local rivals Bury.

More significant was the fact that the first away win of the season was at a side currently placed fourth in the league and that Bolton won all three games between the two sides on the day.

The first 15 scraped through six points to five, but after the last few weeks, the relief on the faces of the players and spectators at the final whistle said everything.

The win moves Bolton off the bottom of the league and morale hopefully should be returning to normal. In atrocious conditions, the match was in doubt right up to the kick off.

Bolton started the brighter, with their forwards having too much in the loose for the home side. From a succession of mauls and rucks Bolton were awarded a penalty and Wallbank converted the chance with ease to give the visitors the lead.

With Bolton upsetting Bury's lineout and the Bury skipper taking ball against the head in the scrummage, neither side really stamped any authority on the game, and a forward battle in the mud ensued.

Kieran Hunter on his return to the side had a marvellous game on the back row in the centre of everything, ably supported by Hunt and Milnes.

Scrum half Leigh came closest to scoring when he broke from a ruck, only to be caught at the death by a fine cover tackle. It was however the home side who took a half time lead when after a succession of penalties the home side attacked the blind and scored a good try in the corner.

A half time score of 5-3 to Bury was a fair refection on the game as Bolton had probably done more of the defending, in a very tight first half.

Half time saw two replacements for Bolton with the experience of Hodgkinson needed at hooker, and the return of stand off Ince after a winter's break in sunnier climates.

Bolton dominated from the off and could have regained the lead, when first, number eight Milnes was stopped agonisingly short and then prop Smith was held up by half the home team, as Bolton did everything but score.

The game then dropped back into a midfield battle in the mud, until after good work by Knibb in the lineout Bury were adjudged to be offside and Ince kicked the penalty in difficult conditions.

Bolton then had to fight a rearguard action and this time the defence stood firm, tested further by a huge penalty count against them as the home side ran at them at every opportunity.

With seconds remaining on the clock, Bury finally were awarded a penalty in kicking distance and the visiting supporters felt a rerun of last weeks disastrous events, as the Bury kicker nominated goal.

For once this season, Bolton had some luck and the kick fell marginally short and the ball was kicked in to touch to finish the game.

The look on the muddied players said it all, no more could have been given by all 18 players and skipper Jackson who had led by example all afternoon took his players off for a well earned bath.