Rugby Union: Littleborough Seconds 15 - 15 Bolton

Littleborough RUFC

A late penalty miss meant Littleborough Seconds and Bolton Seconds shared the spoils at a snowy Mortfield Pavilion.

Bolton much brighter and were only denied by impressive Littleborough defence.

Littleborough scored the first try. A cross field kick from Paul Fino was not dealt with properly by the Bolton defence and Littleborough centre Dylan Critchley got his right hand on the ball as it sat on the line.

For the majority of the first half, Bolton held possession and the territory on the downhill slope and the favourable wind direction.

However, Littleborough would not let them settle and disrupted the scrum, winning every line out bar one and forcing Bolton into errors.

Just as Littleborough thought they had withheld the storm until the half time break, Bolton disrupted a Littleborough scrum in their 22 and Boro conceded a penalty, which the Bolton prop drove over from close range.

After the break Littleborough endured a terrible opening as they lost field position and their fly half Konrad Hill to a yellow card.

Bolton took full advantage with a try from the outside centre in the right corner.

Littleborough drew level with a fine catch and drive, which Paul Fino finished off. 

Bolton took a five-point lead with another close-range effort.

Littleborough increased the intensity and pressure on and were rewarded with a third try. Fly half Hill made amends for his earlier indiscretion with a jinking run to the right corner against a disjointed Bolton from a quick tap penalty.

Hill could even have been the match winner as he lined up a straight forward penalty five metres from half way line after Bolton were penalised for playing the ball illegally at the breakdown.

Unfortunately for Boro, Hill could not overcome the difficult conditions with his attempt sailing to the right of the posts, and the game concluded as a draw.