BOLTON travelled to league leaders and title favourites De La Salle at the weekend for what is always a difficult fixture.

The opening minutes saw both sides test each other out with no real threat to the scoreline.

First score went to the home side, from a scrummage in midfield. Their pacy backs found too much space and the Bolton defence was breached as two players off-loaded the ball in the tackle to support players.

The next 20 minutes saw Bolton dominate territorially but fail to break the Salford side's rugged defence.

Twice Bolton were penalised for failing to stay on their feet at rucks in good positions in their opponents 22, allowing the home side to clear their lines.

Ince then saw a penalty attempt drift narrowly wide as Bolton continued to take the game to their opponents.

After 35 minutes of hard work, Bolton gave De la Salle a soft score on the stoke of half time.

With the conversion taken, Bolton trailed by 14 points at the break.

They continued to press after the break but found a tough aggressive line tackling every time they moved the ball forward. De La Salle increased their lead when, with good possession from a line out, a slick backs move was finished in the corner.

A further penalty was kicked as they stretched the lead to 24 points.

Ince kicked the ball into the corner and from the lineout Bolton then scored a superb try as Hunt caught the ball and the forwards drove the home side over the line for prop forward Hill to cap a good game with his first senior try.

As last week Bolton dominated for periods but any mistakes at this level are severely punished and the home side scored two tries from deep in their half as things went wrong at the back of the Bolton scrum.

The game started to get a bit niggly and a dangerously high tackle on Hackin went unnoticed and the home side scored from the loose ball.

Once more from the restart Bolton attacked the home forwards and from the lineout Bolton received a penalty after a fracas at the back of the line.

A quickly taken penalty saw Hunt floored by the straight arm of the tackling back row player and a red card followed from the referee as the early bath waters were beginning to run.

From the penalty Bolton ran the ball and were awarded a scrum as the ball was held up over the line.

Scrum half Leigh used his experience to break from the base to score in the gap left by the departed player.

Ince added the extra points as the final whistle went. The score of 44 - 14, was harsh on the Bolton side who stuck at the task against strong opponents, in a good game that was thankfully not spoiled by the last 10 minutes.

Bolton's coach Fernside was pleased with certain aspects of the performance but the side must now realise that any mistakes made while in possession will be quickly punished by the better sides in the division.

The defeat leaves Bolton at the foot of the table and the points against column is now close to reaching the total of last season's league campaign with only three games gone.

Bolton seconds had De La Salle as visitors and disappointingly lost 14 - 7, after taking an early lead when Forrester scored.

But the visitors replied immediately as their pack drove over in open play under the posts.

The visitors took the lead on the stroke of half-time with a well taken try, once more converted.

An injury to Rogers led to a reshuffle in the pack but Bolton then spent a frustrating 40 minutes trying to break down the visitors to no avail.

Tempers boiled over in the dying minutes and Captain Carletti's game finished early, as the lady referee sent him to the sin bin for the second week in a row, this time for retaliation.

Bolton's third team entertained Old Boltonians, the mainly student- based team, coming together before people depart for college.

Old Bolts came out eventual winners 22 - 12, tries being scored by Barnes, Binns and Crompton.

Holly added two conversions and a penalty. For the home side Brodie and Banks scored with Taff Wallbank converting one.

The vets travelled to the Fleetwood Vets competition and lost both their games, firstly to Thornton 10 - 5, the try scored by Reg Booth, and the second to the host team 15 - 5.

The side competed well in an enjoyable atmosphere, with rugby and good company the order of the day.

The vets are looking for more players, over the age of thirty five who wish to play against other vets teams in the North West. Ring Dominic Holden on 01204 366636 for further details. By a BEN Reporter