After a promising pre-season our senior team started their premiership campaign with a home tie against Leigh East.

Looking smart in their new strip the Albion were restricted to a 4-0 lead at half time.
The colossal side from Leigh erased that slender lead soon after the restart, but Latchford came good with two further tries.

Joe Gandy had a good attacking game at hooker while debut players Jon Clarke and Paul Miller showed promise.

Latchford's try scorers were Ben Mellor, Mike Cooper and Lee Mitchell. Mike Linaker kicked three conversions. Back to top

Leigh Miners Rangers U14's 14 - 30 Latchford Albion U14's

Latchford came out on top in a physical encounter at Leigh MR even after going two tries down early on. Paul Miller scored his first try for the club and Mike Cooper equalised.

The second half saw Latchford take the lead when Jono Smith put in Lee Mitchell. Leigh came back to equalise but Latchford regained the lead thanks to Ben Mellor.
Chris Coleman, who was having an excellent game at full back, went over followed by Joe Gandy to stretch the points difference. Mike Linaker kicked three conversions.

Ben Mellor and Mike Cooper had strong running games with Lee Mitchell supporting tirelessly. Daz Hill and Jono Smith played well at halfbacks and Joe Gandy showed strength in defence. Back to top

Latchford Albion U14's 30 - 14 Wigan St Cuth's U14's

Tries by Daz Hill, Joe Gandy and Lee Mitchell gave Latchford an 18-6 lead at half time.

The visitors came back after the break until Jono Smith scored followed immediately by a 70-metre try from Paul Miller.

Latchford's star players were Dan Hankey who kicked five conversions, Mitchell, Gandy and Sean Coleman. Back to top

Latchford Albion U14's 14 - 10 Ince Rose Bridge U14's

This cup game saw Latchford give Ince a 10 points start before Jono Smith opened Albion's account.

After half time Mike Cooper scored but Smith had left his kicking boots at home.
Ben Mellor saved the day as he powered over. Daniel Hankey was able to add the two points.

Defensively Lee Mitchell, Paul Miller & Daz Hill were strong. Back to top

Latchford Albion U14's 28 - 6 Thattoheath U14's

With five wins out of five Latchford were topping the table when they recorded another emphatic win over the rather physical Thattoheath.

With only 13 players available against the visitors' squad of 17, Latchford's players showed a better team spirit and more determination.

Try scorers were Daz Hil, Mike Cooper (two) Joe Gandy, Ben Mellor and Jono Smith. Lee Mitchell kicked two goals.

Latchford have been drawn against Rylands in the next round of the Lancs cup. This is due to be played on 27th October, the same date as their League clash. That has now been put to the following Tuesday, 29th at 7pm at Woolston's ground.

There will be a bucket collection for Woolston to help them raise funds after their clubhouse fire. Back to top

Rylands Sharks U14's 21 - 6 Latchford Albion U14's

Rylands prevented Latchford from progressing to the Lancashire cup quarterfinal. The first half was a tight affair with Daz Hill and Joe Gandy working tirelessly in defence.

Rylands tactics prevented Latchford from using the full width of the pitch and the Sharks pressed home their advantage in the second half.

Captain Lee Mitchell led from the front and scored Latchford's try from a Gandy kick.

With Blackbrook losing to Thattoheath in the Cup the Under 14's had a blank weekend before travelling to Wigan St Pat's. Unfortunately they were unable to get back into winning ways. Back to top

Leigh East U14's 20 - 12 Latchford Albion U14's

With depleted numbers Latchford still managed to take a 12-0 lead but, with tiredness taking its toll, what should have been a commanding lead was eroded away by the home side.

Joe Gandy scored both of Latchford?s tries and Mike Linaker converted.
Daz Hill and Joe Gandy shone in attack, while Lee Mitchell headed the tackle count.

The Under 14s' remaining fixtures of 2002 are Leigh Miners Rangers at home, Wigan St Cuthbert's away and Widnes St Marie's at home. Back to top

Latchford Albion U14's 22 - 16 Leigh Miners Rangers U14's

Latchford came back from a 0-16 deficit to win this epic encounter against the Lancs Cup Finalists. Leigh had amassed 16 points in as many minutes after two Albion players had been sin-binned.

Ben Mellor began the fight back followed by provider Daz Hill scooting through making the half time score line more respectable at 10-16.

The home side were more focussed and organised in attack as Mellor added his second to pull the scores level. With the game evenly balanced some strong running and slick passing saw Lee Mitchell score under the posts. Mike Linaker kicked 3 goals and Ste Fisher had a sound debut. Back to top

Wigan St Cuthbert's U14's 22 - 22 Latchford Albion U14's

Latchford had victory snatched away from them by a never-say-die attitude of St Cuthbert's. The Albion led 22-14 thanks to tries by Mike Cooper, Daz Hill, Lee Mitchell and Mike Linaker, but the Wigan outfit refused to concede defeat and hit back to share the spoils. Back to top

Latchford Albion U14's 14 - 12 Widnes St Marie's U14's

A slow start saw the visitors score 2 tries before Jono Smith scored and Mike Linaker added the extra 2 points. Mike Cooper's try brought the score to 10-12 at half time.

Latchford's spirit and determination shone through in the second half and their efforts were rewarded with Smith's second try. Ste Fisher continued to show promise while the defensive honours went to Joe Gandy and Lee Mitchell. Back to top

Blackbrook Royals U14's 24 - 4 Latchford Albion U14's

Latchford took an early lead in this National Cup game when Daz Hill and Jono Smith linked to send Ste fisher over for his first try for Latchford. They had Blackbrook on the back foot and had the opportunity to extend the lead but ill discipline let the home side into the game and, by half time, was down 10-4.

The second half started well with Jono Smith showing well in defence and Ben Mellor making good yards, but the visitors began to tire and did not play with any flair and urgency to threaten the line. Mike Cooper and Ste Fisher ran with strength while Lee Mitchell and Daz Hill were working well at halfback. Jamie Kinsey played a sound debut but overall this was a disappointing effort from the Albion. Back to top

Latchford Albion U14's 4 - 28 Blackbrook Royals U14's

How often is it that you play a team in a cup game and then immediately face them again in the league? Sadly Latchford failed to conquer the Royals for the second occasion.

It was a game that was evenly balanced for most of the first half. Lee Mitchell broke the line and made good metres only to be held up by a strong defence from the visitors. The rest of the first half saw the same sterling defence that kept the Albion at bay.

It was 0-12 at the interval so Latchford had to get back into the game. They did so in fine style almost from the kick off. Mike Lineker took a good pass from Joe Gandy and put a pass out to Daz Hill who scored in the corner.

The game was close up to the last ten minutes when fatigue took its toll. The visitors were able to add to the score giving it an unfair look after such effort.

Ste Fisher and Mike Cooper made some strong runs with Dean Taylor showing well and Gary Grindley improving as he produced some strong defence. Back to top

Thattoheath Crusader U14's 10 - 14 Latchford Albion U14's

Latchford played an eager Thattoheath side with a patched up squad of just 13 players. The Albion started well showing plenty of spirit and determination despite going down to a try from the home side. A quick reply was provided when Jono Smith put Paul Miller in.

The second half saw Latchford play with more shape and confidence. Ben Mellor ran the ball in hard and was rewarded with a try under the posts for an easy conversion for Mike Linaker. Daz Hill and Lee Mitchell covered the pitch and some slick passing put the inform Linaker in for a well-earned try. The home side replied to bring the scores within a try but Latchford's defence held strong. Back to top

Latchford Albion U14's 66 - 0 Leigh East Hawks U14's

This was a Cup game in which Latchford gave a fine display of Rugby League.
Daz Hill sent Ste Fisher over for the opening try. Minutes later Jono Smith stepped through and scored. This set the tone for the whole game.

Ste Fisher finished with five tries, Mike Linaker claimed a hat trick while the other try scorers were Mike Cooper, Jono Smith, Joe Gandy and debutant Johnny Clarke. Linaker kicked 7 goals. Back to top

Rylands Sharks U14's 12 - 26 Latchford Albion U14's

The home team struck first in this pulsating local derby. Lee Mitchell's try and Mike Linaker's conversion equalised. Ste Fisher followed up and when Jono Smith scored out wide it set up a commanding lead. Jamie Kinsey finished off a lovely move, which Smith converted from the touchline.

Rylands came back briefly but Ste Fisher finished the game when Daz Hill shifted the ball for him to score. A good all round performance from Latchford that put an end to Rylands unbeaten league run and put the Albion on the same points. Back to top

Latchford Albion U14's 42 - 0 Orrell St James U14's

In this NWC Cup 2nd round game the strength and intensity took it's toll on a spirited Orrell side. Lee Mitchell scored the opening try after good support play. Mike Cooper extended the lead when Daz Hill picked him out. Ste Fisher continued his current rich vein of form when he ran round the defence.

The second half saw Tristan Keddie inject into the line to score. Other tries came from Mitchell, Fisher, Jamie Kinsey & Gary Grindley who closed the account. Mike Linaker kicked 5 goals. Back to top

Wigan St Pat's U14's 18 - 24 Latchford Albion U14's

A mistake from the kick of allowed Pat's to move the ball leading to a try in the corner. The writing looked to be on the wall for the depleted 10-man Latchford squad. The Albion refused to give in and moved the ball for Gary Grindley to score. Shocks continued as Ste Fisher's try gave Latchford the lead. Daz Hill followed a kick through and picked up to score. Hill scored again to make it 10-20 at half time. Despite heavy legs Mike Cooper extended the lead. St Pat's threw everything they had but the ten held out to record a classic win. Back to top

Latchford Albion U14's 18 - 18 Pilkington Rec's U14's

This was a tough encounter with a big Pilk's squad who never allowed Latchford to get into rhythm Mike Lineker equalised an early deficit. The game continued try for try with the Albion having to comeback each time. Ste Fisher scored a good try to put the score at half time 8 - 10.

The second half performance was better. Joe Gandy carved through the heart of the defence to give Mike Lineker an easy goal attempt. Jono Smith scored to equalise as clock ticked down to make the draw a fair outcome. Back to top

Rylands Sharks U14's 10 - 8 Latchford Albion U14's

This quarter final of the NWC cup was a tight affair throughout due to two sound defences. Latchford broke the deadlock when Joe Gandy scored and Jono Smith added the extras. The home side hit back just on half time.

The second half was also level until ill discipline allowed Smith to score a penalty kick. Rylands equalised but Latchford had a try disallowed. With seconds remaining a penalty was awarded and retaken for Rylands to go through when all thought the game was destined for extra time in spectacular fashion but as in most games, there can be only one winner. Back to top

Pilkington Recs U14's 18 - 34 Latchford Albion U14's

This was a game that started tight from both teams and it took Latchford some time before Lee Mitchell sent Ste Fisher in for his first try, ably kicked by Jono Smith. It was then a case of tit-for-tat try scoring before Daz Hill sold an audacious dummy and scored under the posts for Mike Linaker to convert. At the break Latchford were leading 16-10.

The second half saw a better performance from the Albion who opened up a Pilks side who were failing to control the strong running of Mike Cooper and Mike Linaker. It was Linaker who then scored under the posts and converted. Ste Fisher scored four tries and a late rally from Pilks was quashed when Joe Gandy danced through from 30 metres and scored in the corner. Ben Mellor worked hard in defence and half back Daz Hill played a crucial role in the win along with the keen tacklers Paul Miller and Dean Taylor. Back to top

Latchford Albion U14's 12 - 21 Rylands Sharks U14's

In what was a great spectacle from both teams it was the visitors who claimed a hard-earned victory. Latchford had good possession and went forward in the early stages but failed to turn pressure into points. The visitors responded with a try and further scores gave them a half time lead of 16 points.

The second half saw a better performance in patches from Latchford but who did not manage their usually expansive game. Daz Hill pounced on a loose ball and grabbed a try then Joe Gandy added another after claiming possession near their line. When Ste Fisher forced his way over it looked like being a comeback worthy of the day. Sadly that was as close as it came. Back to top

Widnes St Marie's U14 22 - 18 Latchford Albion U14's

In their last game of the season Latchford started slowly but commanded most of the second half until the final 10 minutes. Coming back from 10-0 down it was Ste Fisher who opened the scoring from a good pass by Joe Gandy. Jono Smith took an opportunist try close to half time after some good build up play.

The second half started well for the visitors as they began to take control when Daz Hill stepped through the defence with a superb dummy to score under the posts. Having established a lead they failed to capitalise allowing St Marie's to regain the advantage. Mike Linaker scored out wide but the clock was against the visitors. Ben Mellor, Mike Linaker and Lee Mitchell all carried the ball well. There was good defence from Joe Gandy and Mike Cooper in the pack while Hill and Smith proved an effective half back pairing. Tristan Keddie and Chris Higham showed well defensively. Back to top