Bolton went 14-0 up after only 15 minutes, utilising their larger forwards to good effect by producing wave after wave of rolling mauls, from which they scored two converted tries. Moor lost Tony Murton after 10 minutes with a broken thumb, but this brought on MOM Tom Ireland who produced an outstanding display. The deficit was reduced with a Maz Kondratowicz penalty, but Bolton stretched their lead just before half-time with another converted try in the corner, this time courtesy of their backs to lead 21-3 at the interval.

Moor managed to utilise their speedy backs in the second half and along with Ireland, had Bolton defending their line. A quick throw in by Ireland, enabled hooker Lee Harris to trundle over from 15 metres for an unconverted try, followed by another Kondratowicz penalty. Bolton cancelled this with a penalty of their own and then the try of the match as Ireland broke out and fed evergreen centre, Phil Butcher, to score, converted by Kondratowicz. This 18-24 score line meant that Moor were only a converted try away from a victory that seemed unthinkable at half-time and came very close on two occasions to producing the score, both involving Ireland. With 5 minutes to go however, Bolton sealed the game with a drop-goal and then ran the clock down by keeping the ball amongst their forwards to win 27-18. At the final whistle it was a case of what might have been, having won the second half 15-6, but the opposition thoroughly deserved their victory by virtue of their first half display.