‘A team for tomorrow’ was how coach Richard Rawlinson described his much-changed and youthful squad against local rivals Leigh.

The final Lancashire and Cheshire ADM League game of the season augurs well for Bolton, despite a 36-18 away defeat.

The team was made up of predominantly homegrown players who were plying their trade in the Colts only a season or two ago.

Injuries to older, more experienced members of the Bolton squad meant the young guns were once again called upon to step into the heat of battle.

And for long periods of the game they outperformed their more experienced hosts.

However, their lack of top-level game time meant that, despite multiple visits to the Leigh final third, they left empty handed.

Older heads outplayed younger hearts as Leigh were the more clinical team.

After 25 minutes, both teams had scored a try apiece.

Bolton had been camped inside the Leigh 10-metre area for almost 10 minutes without success.

Then, a minor error by the visitors delivered possession to their rivals who moved through the gears and extended their lead to 12-5.

Bolton hung in and their persistence was rewarded with a brace of converted penalties, Ross Hayden cementing his position as Bolton’s leading points scorer for the season.

Their rhythm was upset just before half time when a combination of smooth handling and straight running led to Leigh’s third try of the game and a half-time lead of 19-11.

The second half was a niggly, stop-start game disrupted by multiple infringements and stoppages due to injury.

The home team’s dominance continued in the second half but it was the young Bolton team that ended the game the stronger, scoring a final-minute try which was just reward for their endeavours.

Next season promises to be enthralling for the town’s rugby union club.

Several of the cornerstone players are set to retire from first-team rugby, providing opportunities for the up-and-coming stars of tomorrow.

The culture and feel of the team is about to change as the flaming torch passes down to the next generation.

On the touchline there is a buzz of excitement as supporters look ahead to next season but also look back, remembering their own early years representing the club and the town.

Bolton: Lane, Walker, O’Byrne, M Evans, M Robinson, Ashdown, Keogh, Orrell, Dupont, Wallis, O’Donohoe, Southworth, Shacklock, S Evans, Hayden. Subs: Murphy, Harte, Waddicar.