Hawcoat Park 16 Bolton 10

HAWCOAT Park defied the odds with a tremendous backs to the wall display to defeat Bolton.

The Lancashire side dominated possession and territory and headed back down the M6 wondering how they only had a losing bonus point to show for it.

A solid defence from the Maroon and Whites – playing in their away kit due to a colour clash – was the main reason, as coach Scott Kaighan’s focus on this area in training paid off.

The early exchanges were cautious as both teams tested each other out, but it was clear it was going to be a close, even game.

Bolton had a solid experienced pack and were well organised with close-quarter driving mauls.

Home hooker Brad Morrow was talking way above his weight and was well supported with big defensive hits from his fellow front-rowers John Donnan and Jason Priss.

The first score came in a bizarre manner as home full-back George Hilton fielded a Bolton clearance kick 40 metres out. With everyone wondering what he was doing, he calmly slotted over a long-range drop-goal.

Bolton came right back and, after going close with a few penalty attempts, their centre booted one over for 3-3.

The visitors continued to crank up the pressure and looked useful when stretching the ball out wide.

Home centres Jack Sutherland and Chris Burns made important cover tackles as the defence was tested to keep Bolton out.

The Lancashire side’s scrum half came close to scoring, but the referee judged he had been held up.

From a line out in their 22, Hawcoat’s stand-in skipper Ash Mowat was impeded in the air. The resulting clearance penalty was helpful, but influential second row Mowat twisted his ankle and could take no further part.

Fly half James Howden was kicking well out of his hands and hard-working Matt Sayle slotted over a penalty from 35 metres to make it 6-3.

The start of the second half followed the same pattern, with neither side taking a backward step.

Bolton started to dominate in the scrum and Mike Lightfoot and Priss both had 10 minutes rests following yellow cards.

While the young pack were struggling against the size and technique of Bolton, they made up for with their commitment.

Back-rowers Callum Ramsay, Sayle, Lightfoot and Will Mallinson complemented each other with their industrious effort and their hard work was rewarded when Sayle slotted over another penalty for 9-3.

The visitors came back and took the lead for the first time as their pack camped in Park’s half and set the platform for their influential young scrum half to dart blind and touchdown wide out. Their centre booted over a great conversion for 10-9.

Winger Glen Kaighan went close on a couple of occasions for Hawcoat and was pulled back for a marginal forward pass when about to touch down.

It was looking like the game was going to slip away from the home side when Sayle struck the post with a penalty.

The pressure was getting to all the Maroon and Whites and by this time all three replacements were on the pitch and having an influence, the contrast obvious between 17-year-old Grady Slater and warhorses Tim Clark and Dave Gallagher.

The winning try came through one last concerted effort from the pack.

Hard drives from Priss and Mallinson set the platform and sucked in the Bolton defence.

Influential scrum half Anthony Munday capped a good game by spotting winger Matt Burrows in space wide out and threw out a great long pass.

Burrows beat his man on the inside to touch down, with Sayle slotting over the conversion to make it 16-10.

The last 10 minutes were frantic as Bolton threw everything at their hosts, but the solid defence worked together and kept them at bay.