At the end, home supporters were comparing what they had witnessed to the last game at Malone Field in the play-off game against Aspatria which saw Saints climb to North West One. The match was a personal triumph for head coach Liam McGovern who kicked immaculately and ended with a personal tally of 26 points. In the end, Bolton's score of four tries, two conversions and a penalty was trumped by a home side that scored eight tries, six conversions and three penalties.

There was little suggestion at the beginning that there would be such a score. Saints knew that Bolton were a lively, running side; they had scored 50 points in their last game, but few could have predicted the quality of the running and support on offer.

It was Bolton who had the best of the early exchanges and it was only solid defence and the relieving boot of McGovern that prevented an initial score. A rare sortie into Bolton's half saw Saints switch the ball from left to right and engineer a gap for left-wing Adam Bramhall to score a good try wide on the left after thirteen minutes.

McGovern missed the conversion, the only kick he would miss for the rest of the game, and it was the stand-off's neat dummy that carved another opportunity for the influential Liam Sadler to feed skipper Nick Hearn to pressurise the Bolton defence. Soon after, a fast, long pass from Chris Pilgrim enabled No.8, Will Grabe, to score on the right. A tremendous kick from the touch line by McGovern meant that Saints led 12-0 after 20 minutes.

Bolton's response was immediate. The lively backs producing some slick passing and aided by some poor midfield tackling, meant that centre Will Bate scampered to score to the left of the posts. Stand-off, Lewis Lockett, surprisingly missed the conversion. Almost immediately, Bolton scored in similar fashion. Centre Rhys Pritchard, carved his way through some half-hearted tackling to score to the right of the posts. This time, Lockett made no mistake and, after half an hour, scores were tied at 12-12.

Bolton, encouraged, again attacked and No.8, Cottam, scored to give Bolton their first lead. Lockett converted and Bolton led 12-19. An outrageous dummy by McGovern wrong-footed the Bolton defence and he scored near the posts. His conversion meant that scores were tied 19-19, but the final act was a Lockett penalty that meant Bolton led 19-22 at half-time.

A McGovern penalty levelled the scores early in the second period, just before a sweeping move from the Saints' half passed through the six or seven pairs of hands to end with Tulima Nonu scoring under the posts. McGovern converted. 29-22. Bolton were not phased and full-back, Jack Robinson, shrugged off some indifferent Anselmian defence to score. Lockett missed the extras and, at 29-27, few in the ground predicted that would be the last time Bolton scored. For the last half and hour Anselmians sparked in to life combining forward dominance, pacy attacks and, unlike last season, secure handling at the end of moves.

From the restart, hooker Scott Southwell bundled over in the corner and the metronomic McGovern converted. 36-27. Anselmians' pack was getting on top and two McGovern penalties stretched the lead to two scores for the first time. On the hour, Saints led 42-27 and Bolton's efforts were repulsed by a solid Anselmian defence.

Astute kicking by McGovern set up an attacking position and eventually Bolton ran out of defenders allowing Nonu to score his second try. McGovern's conversion was a formality and Saints were secure at 49-27. In the last few minutes, Bolton tired and Saints produced the move of the game sweeping from one end of the pitch to the other with marvellous handling between back and forwards allowing the ubiquitous Nonu to complete his hat-trick. McGovern converted.

Bolton were defeated and exhausted. To add insult to injury, everything Anselmians attempted came off and the final act was Sadler intercepting a poor pass and running the length of the pitch to score Saints' eighth try. At 61-27, the score flattered Anselmians and Bolton contributed much to the spectacle, although their losing point must be scant consolation.