Low-scoring day for seconds as Bolton find unlikely penalty hero

SOUTHPORT’S second-team were on their travels to Bolton, looking to kick-start their season and record a first win.

In conditions that changed from one extreme to another throughout the 80 minutes it was going to be a tricky game for both teams.

Bolton kicked-off and the ball was recycled well for a few phases before being kicked deep into Bolton territory for the first lineout of the game. As if to set the tone for the entire match, Southport struggled to secure their own ball through the lack of experienced jumpers or forwards light enough to be lifted.

Bolton were then awarded a penalty in front of the posts to take the first points of the game.

Undeterred, Southport responded positively and made territory into the opposition half through a strong run from Dan Lovett from the back of a lineout.

The ball was recycled to the backs who were trying to play rugby but actually knocked-on and conceded a scrum.

Graham Riley and Ian Smith, with many first-team appearances under their belts, finally started to dominate the larger props and got a big nudge on to turn over the scrum. After a couple of good phases in the forwards, the backs cut a great line and Jamie Rodd finished superbly, holding off two scrambling defenders in the process.

This gave Southport a 5-3 half-time lead and captain Boland and pack leader Monaghan called from more aggression and rucking from the forwards as Johnson was proving a real menace at the breakdown area.

Sadly, this maked the end of Southport’s scoring and Bolton, realising the conditions were going to make this a close game, took the opportunity to kick a penalty from near the touchline.

No number 8 at any level should be booting over penalties from there, but it was a superb kick which gave them a 6-5 lead.

Both teams continued to try to play rugby but unfortunately possession was often spilt with careless knock-ons. Ryan Bailey made some strong driving carries but unfortunately for Southport he was often not supported by the rest of the pack. This would prove costly when Bolton finally made their pressure in the Southport half pay off with a well-crafted try after several phases of play.

With the conversion missed Bolton had a six-point lead.

Southport spent the final minutes of the game encamped in the Bolton 22 but a difficult penalty kick shaved the wrong side of the post and the team struggled to find a way to cross the lines.

Bolton awarded Southport’s man-of-the-match to Andy Boland but other notable mentions should be made for Ryan Bailey, James Tompkinson and Chris Tees.