BOLTON RUFC’s first XV belied their lowly North Two West league position to push high-flying Winnington Park all the way at Avenue Street on Saturday before going down 23-13.

On a day when the ferociousness of the tackling overshadowed the quality of the attacking play, Bolton were undone by their indiscipline at the breakdown and their inability to obtain good quality ball from their misfiring lineout routines.

Bolton’s gameplan hinged on a fast start and taking the game to ‘Park’ from the off but it did not quite work out as planned.

A series of penalties conceded by Bolton saw them fall behind to a converted one, and then on 14 minutes a converted try.

The Winnington Park kicker, Cam Flanagan, hardly missed a beat all afternoon and ultimately proved the difference between the two sides.

It took Bolton until the 20th minute to breach the opposition’s 22-metre line and they at least grabbed their first toe hole with a penalty converted by Ben Price.

But more delinquent play at the breakdown and a high tackle led to more penalties gratefully accepted by the visitors.

With 32 minutes on the clock Park extended their lead with a well-worked try by youngster Ryan Snow, once again converted by Flanagan.

Bolton now trailed 17-3 and it looked like the bleak conditions off the field would be matched by the final score.

On 35 minutes Bolton’s fortunes looked to have swung following an interception try from stalwart Alex Waddicar, who galloped 70 metres to score and leave the score at half time 17-10.

Bolton began the second half as they had intended to start the first. The forwards began to dominate in the scrum and the backs, led by the ever-present Will Bate, started to stretch the opposition.

For 20 minutes, the hosts rarely left their opponents’ half and belief surged through the team.

The lead was cut to four points with a Price penalty and the smell of victory was in the air for the home team.

The response from Park, though, showed why they currently sit third in the league.

For the first time in the second half they responded to Bolton’s period of dominance and a 10-minute spell of intense pressure in and around the home side’s 22 led to an offside yellow card for Louis Critchlow and another converted penalty for Flanagan.

Bolton were down to 14 men and trailed 20-13 with just 12 minutes remaining.

The hosts’ defence held firm and with just eight minutes left, on a rare sortie into the opposing half of the field, they were awarded a penalty for offside. However, the kick was pushed wide by the strong wind.

With less than five minutes remaining both teams were feeling the effects of the heavy pitch and even heavier tackle count.

An inevitable Bolton penalty, and even more inevitable conversion by star-of-the-match Flanagan completed the scoring.

Overall, this was a game Bolton should have won but indiscipline in the heat of battle led to their downfall.

The next game at Avenue Street will be on Saturday, February 26 when the visitors will be a St Benedict’s team who currently sit just two places above Bolton in the league.