Halton Farnworth 2 Bold Miners 24

BOLD got off to a winning start to the season in the North West Counties League Premier Division with solid defence laying the foundations for this success.

Playing down the slope Farnworth enjoyed territorial advantage in the first half. However, good tackling by Bold - with young full-back Mat Garner to the fore - kept them at bay and all they had to show at the interval was a 2-0 lead, courtesy of a penalty goal.

After the break it was all Bold, with scrum-half Alan Fletcher player/coach Darren Anders running the show.

The visitors took the lead when good work by centre Danny Lavin and Fletcher created a try for Carl Anders, goaled by Mark Saunders. And they quickly added to their total when a neat inside ball by Dave Hill sent Damien Spiers over, again goaled by Saunders.

Bold were well on top now and Fletcher was next on the scoresheet, following a break by Andy O'Dowd to sprint under the sticks. Saunders again added the extras.

And Anders fittingly crowned Bold's victory with a fine solo try, Saunders' fourth goal completing the scoring.

Fletcher took the Grundy Excavations man-of-the-match for Bold, with Anders and Garner running him close.