This past Saturday saw the return of the Des Drummond Memorial. The original old boys fixture, rightly renamed after the sad passing of Des last year, has been one of the hottest fixtures in the Bolton calendar for the last 7 years (barring covid 2020/2021). The rules are simple, the squad for the upcoming season and a collection of players from yesteryear knock the hell out of each other in the interest of sport, and pay homage to a Bolton legend and former coach.

40+ players took to the pitch in the new Bolton RLFC jerseys, the current team in white and the owd boys (Mets hereafter) in black.

Bolton got off to a fast start forcing an error from the opening kick off. The following set saw the Bolton forwards drive hard to the Mets line before Chris Clarke put Harry Dawber on an inside pass to go under the sticks only a couple of minutes in. The conversion successful from Callum Smith.

The game resumed with Bolton starting on their own 20 as Woodall, Stryker and Kieran Lockett looked to move quickly up the field. A penalty allowed Lewis Lockett to nudge Bolton deep into the Mets half. The forwards resumed the hard drive up the middle with Tuppen and Thompson running hard into a solid Mets defensive line. A repeat set allowed Bolton to play a little out wide before Lewis Lockett dummied and stepped back on the inside to go over for Bolton. Again, the conversion was successful from Smith.

Never down and never out the Mets restarted with a vengeance. An error in midfield from Bolton gave the Mets a chance to start their set on the halfway line. Some big forward drives from Neil Walsh, Colin Crompton and Joe Harte put the Bolton defence under pressure creating gaps for the halves to play out of the back. After a lovely passing move from the Mets back line Adam Ryan was able to go over in the corner to put the owd boys on the scoreboard. The conversion unsuccessful.

From the restart, a knock on from the Mets give the Bolton forwards a decent start on the 30 to attack the line. The Bolton forwards arm wrestle hard up the middle, Stryker, Corfield and Clarke take drives allowing Lockett to get the ball out wide through the hands to the wing but Woods was unable to get over and was put into touch by a fantastic Mets defence.

The big defence lit a fire in the Mets attacking line and after some lovely hands, a break allowed them to gain massive headway down the pitch. Moving quickly left to right the Bolton defence were at sixes and sevens and an overlap allowed Ethan Hill to go in once again in the corner for the Mets to pull it back to 12-8. The conversion unsuccessful.

With just over 5 minutes to play in the half, the Mets had Bolton on the back foot. More big forward carries coupled with some great hands from the backs put them in another great position from 30 metres out. Tom Cain collects the ball from the ruck and a nice step and dummy allowed him to go through and beat the full back to bring the Mets level at 12-12. The conversion was this time successful from Harte, the score at the half Bolton 12-14 Mets.

The second half started with Bolton receiving the ball and gaining some good yards on the back of carries from Stryker, Michael Sackfield and Kenny Sackfield which had the fantastic Mets defensive line working overtime but remaining impenetrable.

For the next 10 to 15 minutes both teams struggled to gain any momentum and possession switched between the sides in the middle of the park.

With a little over 10 minutes to go, Lewis Lockett decides to change things up and chips into the corner, the ball beating the outstretched arm of Rik Fletcher to the dead ball line.

From the 20 metre restart a solid Bolton defence and an error from the Mets give Bolton attacking field position only 30 from the line. With Pritchard commanding the troops, he beckons Stryker, Smith and Thompson at the line. With not long in the match to go, Kenny Sackfield attacks the line bouncing off challenges to go over to Bolton. Putting them in front at 16-14. Kieran Lockett then sends a beautiful conversion over to make the score 18-14.

The Mets decide to change tactic and introduce a kicking game which fields success, as Adam Ryan collects one to start an attack from out wide, Bolton only saved by some last ditch defence and an unforced error.

Bolton are able to close out the game in possession, keeping hold of the ball and slowing down the play.

The final score, Bolton 18-14 Bolton Mets Old Boys.

The man of the matches were Neil Walsh for the Mets and Kieran Lockett for Bolton. Overall MoM given to Walsh.

There were over 100 people in attendance both playing and watching which was a fantastic turnout for Des and we raised £400 for the club.

Thank you to everyone involved and we’ll see you next year for the next Des Drummond Memorial.