BOLTON Rugby Club’s Under-18 Colts overcame the snow and Widnes with a 41-0 triumph last weekend.

In the second match in the conference phase of the Colts League, Storm Arwen caused extreme weather conditions.

In Bolton all mini games had been called off in the morning due to the ground being frozen, it seemed inevitable the match would be called off when the snow started falling but the call came through from Merseyside the game could go ahead.

Bolton arrived with only 13 players and so played with equal numbers against Widnes who were generous and apologetic that the snow rarely sticks around there.

Widnes kicked off to Bolton and it was clear handling was going to be a problem with cold hands and a snow-covered ball, and it was not long before the first of many scrums.

Bolton seized the initiative and Ben Price broke through to score his first of four tries.

Widnes played with structure and had a good set-piece but were undone in broken play and Mark Glynn’s try was an example of pace out wide as he took a crash ball, broke a couple of tackles and raced through for his score.

The forwards had their work cut out containing the Widnes pack who set their pods and drove relentlessly upfield.

Price added two more individual efforts before getting an assist, setting Zac Edwards racing down the wing and scoring in the corner.

Bolton were buoyed by their first-half performance but struggled to get into any rhythm against a gutsy Widnes team after the interval.

It took a while for them to get deep into Widnes’ half, but the hosts were issued a yellow card for repeated infringements.

Bolton pressurised Widnes and from a scrum five metres out from the try-line Sam McDowell picked the ball from the base of the scrum and powered his way over.

The only other try from this half came from an outside break by Price.

Kicking duties for conversions were shared between Glynn, Jake Rimmer and Price all getting one each.

The match ended with all players tired and unable to feel their hands and feet.