BOLTON progressed comfortably into the next round of the Tetley Vase with a 46 - 0 win over Carnforth at Avenue Street and showed more organisation and aggression than in last week's poor performance in the league.

From the opening whistle the Bolton forwards set about their task and produced a steady supply of good possession for the half backs to use.

Scrum half Leigh opened the scoring when a huge gap appeared at the side of a ruck and he used his vision and pace to weave his way through the cover defence. Ince converted and immediately after added a further three points from a penalty.

Centre McDermot showed the value of straight aggressive running as he broke the defence to score as the forwards and backs linked up in midfield. The game was running away from the Cumbrians who dug in and replied with their best spell of the game, however the home defence improved on last week's bad start and their was no way through for the visitors. Bolton regained control and finished the half scoring with a well worked try scored by right winger Metcalfe, Ince adding the points for a 22 - 0 lead.

With the game potentially over Bolton could have sat back, but stuck at the task and once more opened up the defence, Marriott putting full back Edwards in to score in the corner. With the referee seemingly punishing Bolton for many minor offences the game drifted away for a while until scrum half Leigh scored from a long way out, leaving an easy conversion.

The try of the game followed, as after good recycling of the ball, the backs broke right from the ruck and hooker Hodgkinson joined the line and scored with many red shirts in support. Leigh capped possibly his best game since joining the club with a carbon copy of his first try to claim his hat-trick. Stand-off Ince kicked the two points and the two players can take credit for good performances, made easy by the hard work of the pack who kept the team on top throughout the game.

Next week the club returns to league action with the visit of local rivals Tyldesley. After the game Bolton will be presented with their league championship trophy from the RFU, for last season's successful campaign.

A young Bolton second XV travelled to Leigh and lost a good game 26 - 3, the first half was dominated by Bolton, and Barlow kicked one of two penalties to give a half time lead to the visitors. A changed Leigh side at the break upped the tempo of the game and with Bolton not having the luxury of so many substitutes the home side started to score with some good rugby, and finished the stronger as Bolton were left pondering over the lack of points from their first half dominance.

Bolton thirds and the veterans both lost against strong local opposition. The thirds losing at home to Leigh as the forwards struggled to maintain possession and the vets suffering from the reverse, travelling to play Wigan Vets in their first game of the season with a team made up mostly of forwards.