Hawcoat suffer last-gasp defeat in season finale

HAWCOAT Park were denied a season-ending victory as Bolton stole away with the points thanks to a last-gasp try.

Despite an improved performance from the home side, the result was similar to many in the latter half of the North Lancs/Cumbria season as they saw the win snatched away at the death.

In what as an exciting, close game for any neutral, the result could have gone either way.

Hawcoat started well, with the returning Mike Lightfoot orchestrating the line-out.

On the back of this, some good forward drives and retaining the ball through the phases, Park applied early pressure and took the lead on 10 minutes as players' players-of-the-year Will Mallinson forced his way over from close range for 5-0.

Bolton responded, their powerful pack having an advantage in the early scrums, while when moving the ball wide they had pacey backs.

Their centre was proving a handful with his strong, balanced running, and from one of his runs his fellow centre scored the visitors' first try, converted for 7-5.

Bolton started to crank up the pressure and the home defence had to be strong. Tenacious scrum half Anthony Munday and hard-working prop Andy Kent made timely tackles, but it was a team effort that just about kept them at bay.

On the half-hour, Bolton extended their lead from a lost ball when in their own half. It was snapped up by their classy scrum half, who showed good pace to slice through Hawcoat's defence and score a 60-metre individual try.

The visitors were denied a third before the break from an overlap, as good cover tackling from Chris Burns and winger Rob Shepherd halted them and kept it at 14-5 at the break.

Park started the second half well, with fly-half James Howden making use of the wind.

However, another loose carry saw the ball was snapped up and good handling and support play put the Bolton prop into space for a 20-metre run to the line and a 19-5 lead.

For the next 20 minutes, Hawcoat dominated, on the back of their line-out play and driving maul.

Four tries were scored, the first when hooker Adam Grainger took a quick penalty tap to force his way over.

Following a strong run by centre Burns, Munday got his hands on the ball and showed good strength to go in soon after, with the gap now 19-15.

Park regained the lead following good work by Grady Slater and winger Will Coles. A line-out drive from the resulting penalty saw Howden join the maul and force his way over. George Smith slotted over a good conversion and it was 22-19.

Second-rower Ashley Mowat was having an outstanding game and deservedly collected the last try, finishing off good work by Callum Ramsay. Once again Smith booted over the conversion.

Bolton did not give up and, as the game approached its final stages, adopted a run everything approach, which was ultimately to prove successful.

Their back-rower forced his way over for a converted try, before their outstanding scrum half collected his second to snatch the lead for Bolton, with no time for the restart after the successful conversion.

After last season, a mid-table finishing position in a competitive North Lancs/Cumbria League would have been accepted by Park, however, after their great start, the period since Christmas has been disappointing for all involved and will need to be reversed for next season.