HARRY McDermott scored two tries as Bolton RUFC's Under-16s beat Wigan 31-7 in a friendly.

Bolton bagged five tries in total – James Hopkinson, skipper Ben Price and Cameron Milton also in the scoresheet – as they made light of a wet and soft pitch.

It was clear from the outset the game was going to be decided in the forward lines and Bolton second-row, Jack De Mullet, set the tone for his team-mates early on with two big tackles and gaining territory with powerful driving with ball in hand.

Bolton dominated in the ruck, with Memphis Basnett and Fred Holt Gregson turning over possession, and also in the scrum by overpowering Wigan time and again.

With the solid foundation of the forward domination, the backs had chance after chance to score and winger Hopkinson crossed the line inside five minutes, finishing a beautiful move down the left.

Wigan had a brief glimmer of hope on 17 minutes when they scored a converted try against the run of play to take the lead temporarily.

But Bolton roared back when McDermott capitalised on a scrum against the head on 25 minutes to give the hosts a 12-7 lead at half time.

Some silly handling errors and poor decision-making at the breakdown meant Bolton had not been able to put the result beyond doubt but McDermott gave them a flying start in the second half with a try following along period of forward possession against a tiring Wigan team.

Matthew Dainty, making his Bolton debut on the wing, had some good opportunities and was unlucky not to cap his first appearance with a score when a forward-pass decision went against the home team.

Midway through the second half, a Bolton penalty was quickly taken by captain Price who tapped and ran clean through a flat and offside Wigan line to touch under the posts.

Bolton continued to waste a host of attacking opportunities, but Milton secured the try his performance deserved before the end to give the home team a comfortable win.