BOLTON RUFC 1st team's Jekyll and Hyde performances continued at Bury in the Courage League with one of their worst of the season.

The 13-6 defeat was a bitter disappointment after last week's thumping of Oldham. Against a team bottom of the league and with minus 2 points (for playing an unregistered player) Bolton should have done much better.

The pack never got out of bottom gear and the backs, who could have sewn up the match, had to live on short rations. Even a draw was on the cards until a last minute penalty try saw the home team victorious. Captain Nick Holmes put over two penalties and was the best of the team that travel to Birchfield on Saturday for the 3rd round of the Pilkingtons Plate. Who know what they will do? Bolton 2nds at home to Bury 2nds should have been more convincing winners than the 9-6 points scoreline. The typical Bury spoiling tactics kept the free flowing Bolton game subdued, and Sean Mitchinson did well with his three penalties.

The pack kept going with Kevin Seth a handfull at prop and John Singleton always prominent. The tryline was hardly threatened by either side and Bolton will consider this a hard earned win.

Bolton 3rds away at Bury 3rds were always in charge after a good first half and ran out 19-8 points victors. A good effort by the pack early on was rewarded by a good solo try by Ross McQueen with Neil Unsworth and Greg Nichol adding tries too. Mark Hawkins landed two conversions and tidied up a lot of scrappy possession at scrum half. The second half was dull, with only some good scrummaging to show Bolton were never going to be beaten.

Bolton 4ths had Bury 4ths as guests, and the experienced Bury pack had just too much ammunition in the scrums for a Bolton side that never gave in, and with more ball could have even perhaps changed the result from 29-7. Mike Ince scored the try and Pete Fishwick got the conversion. John McAvoy was the pick of the backs, while up front none put more effort in than Reg Booth and Mills. Captain Keith Irwen led well and will be proud of the good show put up by his men.

On Wednesday Bolton Institute opened their campaign with a win against Carlisle by a close margin of 23-19 points. Taking time to settle and play together Bolton were indebted to Austin Elliott for his three tries as they were taking control. Carlisle came back well and only some great work by hooker Darnley denied the visitors the ball for Bolton to hang on and hear the final whistle.

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