BOLTON RU secured their first league title in 12 years with a 41-8 demolition of Ashton at Avenue Street.

With closest rivals Eccles crashing to defeat at Heaton Moor, Bolton went four points clear with only one game remaining.

An early exchange of penalties made the score 3-3 but the first try went to the home side. Scrum half Leigh broke and popped the ball to skipper Hunter who crashed over. Holmes kicked the conversion and Bolton led 10-3.

The Bolton team began to gain the upper hand in all departments. The pressure told and Holmes was given an opportunity to extend the lead with a penalty kick which he duly slotted between the uprights.

Bolton now hit top gear. McDermott broke the line in the centres and a brilliant passing move saw Sugden finish the try well. Holmes again kicked the extras and the lead stretched to 20-3.

The first half scoring was completed when Holmes broke through before setting up Marriott under the posts. He completed the formality of the conversion and Bolton went into the break 27-3 up and in total control of the game.

The second half continued in a similar vein with the home team looking to boost their points difference in case of a slip-up in their final league game.

They elected to run a penalty and this gave substitute Hackin the chance to take on the defence. Aggressive running saw him break through and extend the lead to 32-3 with the try. Holmes again kicked the extra points and Bolton led 34-3.

Ashton seemed to dredge up something from deep within themselves just as Bolton took their foot off the gas. What followed was a fifteen minute siege of the Bolton line.

Camped in the home side's '22' and benefitting from some benevolent refereeing, Ashton finally converted their eighteenth penalty, creating space for their fly half to cross for a try.

The fact it had taken 15 minutes to break them down was testament to Bolton's defence which is by far the meanest in the league, and that has been the foundation of their success this season.

Hackin again finished off superb work from the pack as Bolton re-asserted their authority. Holmes completed a 100 per cent kicking performance with his eighth successful conversion.

Ten months of hard graft had culminated in Bolton's first major honour since moving to their current site 11 years ago. Hopefully this will now be the springboard for the whole club to reap the benefits of a better standard of rugby.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.