Bolton handed Oldham RUFC a 26-7 defeat Saturday in league play, overturning a one-point halftime deficit with three second-half tries that left the visitors ruing missed chances.

Oldham, forced into seven changes from the side that faced Hoylake a fortnight ago, trailed 6-0 inside ten minutes after two Bolton penalties—one for a ruck infringement, the other for a contentious high tackle. Jordan McEwan’s tactical kicking shifted momentum, and from a lineout catch-and-drive McEwan fed Tom Davies, whose flat pass sent Brian Massey through a gap to score under the posts. McEwan’s conversion nudged Oldham ahead 7-6, a lead they held until the break despite squandering a penalty and several goal-line opportunities.

Bolton emerged re-energised, crossing early in the second half to retake the lead and sap Oldham’s resolve. Penalties mounted—more than double the first-half count—gifted Bolton possession and field position, yielding two further tries and a flattering margin. “A story of what could have been for Oldham,” admitted coaches afterward, praising a vastly improved display that simply “got away from them” after the interval. Flanker Josh Semple earned Oldham’s man-of-the-match honours for his relentless work in attack and defence.

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