The chilly breeze from the River Mersey at Widnes became an ill wind for a much-changed Bolton team on Saturday as they lost 59-14.

They visited Heath Road looking to complete a winning double over their high-flying rivals having beaten them in the reverse Lancashire and Cheshire ADM League fixture earlier in the season.

But with seven enforced changes, coach Rich Rawlinson faced a tough selection and fans’ favourite, Joe Clarke, failed a fitness test before the game adding to his woes.

Amateur sport is facing real issues as participants are slow to return post covid lockdown and are quick to be drawn into alternative ways of spending their Saturday afternoons.

Sports governing bodies are only too aware of the issue and yet, it has so far failed to ignite debate amongst the “chattering classes” in our capital city.

Thank goodness Bolton are able to draw upon their rich seam of former Colts players. What they lack in stature, at such a young age, they certainty make up for in heart and willingness to compete.

It was always going to be a tough afternoon against a vastly more experienced Widnes team who find themselves in the thick of the battle for promotion.

Unsurprisingly, Bolton’s young guns fought gamely right to the end and they were rewarded with a signature opportunist try from Jack Robinson and a first ever score for his home-town team from Milo Holmes.

The lineout and driving maul continue to improve and catch the eye with hard work on the training pitch bearing fruit on match days.

The Widnes outside centre, Tom Spencer, grabbed the ‘Star of the Match’ honour with an eye-catching performance full of mazy runs and tackle-breaking bursts. He was involved in pretty much every one of the home team’s nine tries.

Bolton visit Tarleton in the league on Saturday before their next game at Avenue Street a week later against a Southport side who are struggling for form this season, both 2.15pm kick offs.

A much-needed home win for Bolton in that clash will leave them looking up the table for the remaining four games of the regular season.

Bolton team: Ashdown, Biggins, Leigh, Chappelhow, McLaughlin, Evans, Swift, Orrel, J Robinson, Bate, Steel, McClusky, J Holmes, M Holmes, Shacklock, Subs: Doogan, M Robinson, Rawlinson.