2nd Half Blues

Starting the week off with healthy squad numbers and a win in the reverse fixture, Fleetwood went into the game confident that the result could be replicated. Unfortunately lads dropped out through work related incidents and the second string were left to start with 15, with Chris Jones arriving late to help out.

Despite this setback, the home side started the stronger team. The game plan was simple, dominate the early proceedings and get a score on the board. Mission accomplished. The forwards did their job with Bridges, Taziker and Rocks, among others making some really hard hitting runs which sucked in the Bolton defence. This allowed the backs to realign and simple hands found Chris Riedel in the centre to score the try. Conversion missed.

Confidence was up, but Bolton were in no mood to take punishment all day. Realising that they wouldn't break through the forwards, elected to take the Fleet back line on, which payed dividends. Lads out of position and forwards playing in the backs was always going to be a recipe for a defensive disaster. Bolton took the ball wide to score in the corner. There was some contention by home winger and full back, Kilburn and Heer, as they believed that the Bolton Winger had put a foot in touch. The referee consulted with the away touch judge on that side, unfortunately, he was not keeping up with play and did not see it.

Fleetwood wouldn't let the decision get to them and immediately replied with a try from Prop James Gregson who powered himself over the line after good work from the forwards. Conversion missed.

Bolton soon equalised and scored another before the break.

The second half then all but ended the game as a contest. Bolton came out of the blocks with all guns blazing and put Fleetwood to bed with a couple of well worked tries.

There was some good displays from Fleetwood though. After 30 phases from their own half, forwards and backs both trying things, the ball eventually made it out to Kilburn on the wing, who scored his first try in senior rugby. Conversion missed.

After another rare Fleetwood second half attack, good forward runs created a gap for burly prop Gregson to run it in from about 10m out for his second try of the game. Conversion missed.

Final Score

Fleetwood 20 v 59 Bolton

Tries:

Riedel; Gregson (2); Kilburn.

Match Overview

It's hard to give a man of the match this week. The second half performance did let everyone down a little bit.

In the forwards the scrum functioned well, dominating the away team. The line outs were a bit of a non factor, due to a lack of a recognised jumper. Some good runs and tackles were made.

In the backs, there were glimpses of what could have been. When attacking in full flow the home side did look dangerous.

The official had an bit of an uneven game, strictly following the rules of the game in the first half, to making some questionable decisions in the second.

The Weekly Sam Pook Report

Sam was conspicuous in his absence this week, gallivanting on a boat in the North Sea. Due to this I have to regretfully inform everyone that no successful scrums or line outs came from Sam this week. We will all be looking for improvements to his game in the near future.

Squad: 15. Heer; 14. Mitchell; 13. Riedel; 12. Hall; 11. Kilburn; 10. Pearce; 9. Kirton; 1. Wood; 2. Foden; 3. Gregson; 4. Taziker; 5. Rocks; 6. Donaghue; 7. Bridges; 8. Jackson; 16. Jones.

Next Week

Next week the Green and Gold 2s are on the road in a rearranged fixture at Littleborough, which promises to be a tough game.