BOLTON Under-15s agonisingly missed out on the league title after drawing their title decider at Vale of Lune.

Bolton were ahead for large portions of the game and dominated territory with only desperate defending from Vale keeping the score level at half time.

The second half saw both teams take the lead but they continued to cancel each other out in a topsy-turfy affair.

Earlier in the season Vale inflicted Bolton's first defeat but the Avenue Street team would have snatched the title if they had managed to secure a bonus point victory on Sunday.

A year of development and progress has seen Bolton win the Blacksticks Blue Vase last season and get promoted two divisions this year.

Finishing second means they go into the cup competition and will face defending champions Manchester on February 28 in the quarter-finals.

Bolton U8s managed to secure two victories on the same day to maintain their unbeaten run despite having gone four weeks without a match.

They had an under-strength squad with only one substitute to interchange throughout the two games.

In the first match they beat Leigh 15-10 in a hard-fought victory which saw them come back from going four tries behind early on.

That lethargic start from the home side was shaken off as Oliver Brennand scored two quick tries which put his side on the front foot.

Four tries followed from Bolton thanks to great support play from captain Corey Morgan and Tom Green, and with further tries coming from both sides the score 8-6 to Bolton at the interval.

The second half started with a brilliant individual run from Bolton’s Tom Forrest who was tagged just short of the try line, but with Morgan in close proximity the captain capitalised and secured a try.

Some expansive team moves saw Bolton extend their lead to 13-8 before two tries for each side completed the scoring.

The second match saw Bolton run out 8-4 victors in what was a pulsating clash played at a frantic pace between the two sides.

The level of physicality displayed by both teams led to a number of spilled balls and knock-ons with both teams having to be reminded that it is tag rugby.

Half time saw Bolton leading 4-3 but a resolute defence and some individual brilliance by Liam Jenkins and Morgan saw Bolton home.

Bolton U7s continued their perfect record with wins against Tarleton RUFC and Leigh RUFC in a round-robin tournament.

Tarleton put in a dogged effort but Bolton ran out 10-2 winners with some excellent team tries and remarkable ball handling.

Bolton had to overcome a resilient Leigh to register a 9-4 victory in their second match, showing an impressive blend of determination, concentration and togetherness to earn the gritty win.