BOLTON RUFC remain rooted at the bottom of the league after losing at home at local rivals Eccles,12-11 at Avenue Street on Saturday.

In atrocious conditions Eccles should have taken an early when they were awarded a penalty in front of the posts, however the kick failed to leave the ground and Bolton escaped.

Wallbank showed his opposite number the correct technique when he opened the scoring with a penalty, after the visitors were offside at a ruck.

Eccles responded with a well taken try under the posts when the home defence disappeared in midfield and the extra points were converted.

The game then slowed down in the mud and Bolton's skipper Jackson was sent to the sin bin with his opposite number after an incident of the ball.

Half time arrived with no further scores and Bolton headed for the second half with the forwards relishing the scrums as they continued to push the Eccles pack backwards at will.

The Eccles tighthead prop was the next man to visit the bin after he was caught punching, but his stay was short-lived as the referee then decided to grant him remission on the grounds that the scrums were unsafe without him.

A decision that Bolton challenged strongly but the referee stuck to his guns despite the protests. Bolton returned to playing some rugby amid the confusion and reduced the gap with another penalty kicked by Wallbank.

McDermot playing in an unaccustomed role at full back saved Bolton falling further behind with a top class tackle as the try line beckoned for Eccles. An injury to new signing Kearsley, led to a reshuffle and straight away the switch paid off, as Hackin popped up on the wing and pushed aside two defenders to score in the corner. Wallbanks conversion hitting the post as Bolton now led 11-7.

Bolton failed to finish off the game and with four minutes remaining a mistake at the back of the scrum led to the Eccles scrum half stealing the ball, giving an easy try to the back row, the Bolton players arguing with the referee that the ball was still in the scrummage.

The final whistle soon followed and the players and spectators headed for the warmth of the clubhouse with plenty to talk about, in particular the sin bin decision. Several players shone through the gloom with Hunt topping the tackle count and another new signing Smith having a good game in the front row.

The second team also played Eccles at home and the visitors won comfortably thanks to an opening twenty minute spell. Bolton closed the gap with a try by Bray, converted by Carletti, a further penalty giving a half time score of 13-7 to Eccles. Bolton started the second half well, but a converted try against the run of play killed the game off.

A further penalty to the visitors giving a final score of Bolton 10 Eccles 23. A mixture or thirds and vets travelled to Eccles and the two sides fought out a three all draw. Bolton's points coming from a penalty kicked by Clarke.

In wet conditions both packs cancelled each other out and it was certainly not a day to be stuck out on the wing. Baker, Nicol and Holden stood out for Bolton as both defences stayed on top, and neither team could force a break through.

Both sets of players gladly headed for the showers at the final whistle.