TRAFFORD MV suffered disappointment for the second successive week when their North Lancs/Cumbria Division campaign started with a crushing 70-19 defeat at Bolton.

Following a 30-21 reverse at Heaton Moor in the Lancashire Trophy seven days earlier, MV fielded a young side with five of last season's Colts playing and a number of notable absences.

And it started badly when Bolton struck a penalty through Alex Waddicar and followed this sharply with tries from Jonny Stanfield and James Singleton for an early 13-0 lead.

MV were shell-shocked and struggled to hold the pace and fire of the home side.

However they dug in and came back with a try from centre Dominic West, converted by Pat Eccles.

They stemmed the flow of tries for a short while and some good attacking runs from collected kicks by full-back Henry Brownlow gave MV hope. However, good defence and sharper attacking options saw Bolton cross twice more before half time for a comfortable 29-7 lead.

The second half was only going to go one way and as MV picked up injuries to Jamie Kingdon and Danny Kelly times were getting tough.

Trafford managed to pick up a couple of consolation tries through second-rower Andy Clegg and substitute back-row John Feldman but their hopes of sneaking a losing bonus point were dashed as Bolton seemingly scored at will with a further six second-half tries.

Good kicking from stand-off Waddicar, with seven conversions and a couple of penalties, boosted Bolton's score.

This was a tough game for young Simon Thornton to make his first XV debut but he can hold his head up with some good defensive work under heavy pressure.

Fellow former Colt Henry Brownlow collected MV's man-of-the-match nomination.

This weekend MV travel to Tarleton.

On a brighter note MV's mini/junior section opened their season last weekend and will continue on Sunday mornings at 10.30am at MacPherson Park.

New players are welcome from the age of four upwards for boys and girls. Contact Greg on 07834 857905 for more details.

Also at MV on Wednesday evenings at 6.30pm there is walking rugby for over-50s men and women. Contact wilfdooley@virginmedia.com for information about getting involved.