DIFFICULT DAY AT BOLTON

BOLTON 50 : 24 ASPATRIA

A 50:24 reversal at Bolton should quickly be consigned to history as just one of those days. It was a day when Bolton proved to be in excellent form and took full advantage of near enough every opportunity that came their way. The result leaves Aspatria at the wrong end of the table after opening the campaign with two defeats. They will need no further motivation to set matters right when De La Salle visit Bower Park on Saturday.

Within the first 6 minutes of the game Aspatria had conceded two tries, found themselves 12:0 down and facing an uphill struggle. The start would have horrified the coaching team but the response would at least offer some comfort. The Black Reds gradually worked their way back but close to the line and a vital score, poor handling let them down and they had to settle for a Jack Clegg penalty to narrow the gap to 12:3.

Around the 25 minute mark Aspatria were arguably on top. A rash of penalties conceded brought them into the Bolton 22. The Aspatria forwards reverted to type and battered the home try line. Their effort should have brought a reward especially as Bolton went down a man after the referee lost patience with constant infringements. Despite this the defence stayed solid enough to frustrate Aspatria and eventually clear the line.

The respite was short lived as yet another penalty conceded on 30 minutes allowed Aspatria to mount a catch and drive around seven meters from the try line. A bizarre lineout was initially won by Bolton who then mishandled and in the chaos that followed Aspatria scrum half Jason Ward had the presence of mind to pick-up the ball and dart in at the corner. Clegg’s touchline conversion was good and at 12:10 it seemed the game was wide open.

After a good 15 minute spell Aspatria needed to get to half-time without suffering further damage. A task in which the fell short. Having suffered so badly in the opening 6 minutes they suffered a similar fate in the last 5 minutes as Bolton’s back division re-discovered their early form and plundered two tries to end the first 40 with a 26:10 advantage.

Aspatria needed a good start to the second period if they were to salvage anything from the contest. Alas it was going to be Bolton’s day. It took the home side only 4 minutes to put the game far beyond Aspatria’s reach as they extended the score with, first a penalty and then a 5th try. At 36:10 it became damage limitation for the visitors.

At the 53 minute mark Bolton lost another man to the sin bin for a late tackle and this provided some impetus for Aspatria to generate a good attacking position. The forwards took over and this time made no mistakes as prop Graham Andrews breached the defence to put some respectability on the 36:17 score line.

Aspatria survived further damage until the last 10 minutes of the contest when some excellent attacking play by Bolton’s Will Bate opened up the defence and his final pass gave the left winger a stroll over the line for 43:17.

Aspatria would not lie down and from a scrum around 30 meters out No8 Matthew Atkinson set off on a charge downfield. Atkinson sucked the defence in and when he was finally corralled still had the skill to get a pass off to onrushing backrower Jacques Rowe who went under the posts.

The score came back to 42:24 but more importantly there were still a few minutes on the clock giving the visitors a slim hope of another score and with it a vital Fourth try bonus point. It was not to be. Aspatria did everything they could to generate an opportunity from deep but this only resulted in Bolton taking a final opportunity to disrupt play and score to end play at 50:24.

Bolton awarded Will Bate as man of the match and for Aspatria it was Jono Bethwaite. As always the Bolton reception was warm both on and off the field. We were well looked after by Duncan and the rest of the Bolton officials which is always appreciated and we look forward to reciprocating on 4th January when they visit Bower Park.