Didsbury Toc H 19 - 0 Bolton

Bolton, the only team to beat Didsbury this season, would have hoped to repeat the victory they inflicted in the second match of the season. Any ideas of an upset seemed to be abated as the home side scored an early opportunist try. Fly-Half Neil Wilkinson charged down a attempted clearance kick by Bolton, gathered the ball himself to touch down under the posts. The conversion was added to give Didsbury a 7-0 lead. Bolton, clearly motivated at playing the league leaders, stuck to their task and held Didsbury’s attacks. Didsbury’s second try was a very well worked move. Clean lineout ball was fed to scrum half, Gaz Oakley who cleverly broke down the blind side and fed hooker Mike Hyde. Hyde managed to barge his way towards the line and then cleverly passed the ball back to Oakley to touch down for the try. The conversion was again added and the lead stretched to 14-0. In previous weeks Didsbury would have pushed on and racked up a big score, but for the last twenty minutes of the first half and the first quarter of the second half Didsbury couldn’t maintain any pressure on the Bolton line.

Bolton had plenty of possession of the ball, but due to Didsbury’s tight defence they rarely threatened the home side’s try line. Didsbury wrapped the game up with a flowing move finished off by winger Sean Bishop out wide. The conversion was missed, and the final score was 19-0.

A slightly stuttering display by Didsbury, compared to the high standards they have set themselves recently, but being top of the league every team they now face will attempt to take their prized scalp.

Next Saturday Didsbury face another tough test as they visit Littleborough.