Open Age Match Reports
23/10/1999 v Rylands (home)
Latchford Albion - 14Rylands - 8
LATCHFORD Albion took their unbeaten run to five games but had to survive a resurgent Rylands onslaught in Saturday's fierce North West Counties 'derby' at Victoria Park.
It handed Albion a boost going into tomorrow's, Saturday's home Lancashire Cup third round tie against another Warrington opponent, Bank Quay Bulls.
After the win coach Bobby Hall said: "We're on a bit of a roll at the moment and it is nice to put one over our arch-rivals but Bank Quay will be another test for us.
"They are the only side to have beaten us at home this year, in the Greenalls Cup, but we have improved 100 per cent since then."
Hall was quick to praise the form of his centres Andy Temple and Ian Fowler following the win and he gave pats on the back to hard-working forwards Mark Daniels, captain Sean Mellor and Neil Dickinson, scorer of the crucial second half try which proved to make all the difference.
Latchford had a Mark Lord inspired purple-patch 14 minutes either side of half-time when they turned a 4-0 deficit into a 14-4 lead. The veteran stand off rolled back the years with some fine ball work and strong running which gave Albion purpose and direction.
A simple barge over try by prop Daniels and then one from Dickinson, who juggled Lord's pass before touching down, were complemented by two Mellor conversions and a penalty.
But then Albion played kamikaze football. It gave Rylands the impetus to claw their way back.
Prop Andy Garrett slipped out a lovely ball to centre James Evans who put winger Anthony Poole over in the corner and it was 14-8.
Outstanding full back Chris Buckley made two try-saving tackles on Poole and Chris Porrino from long Rylands breaks in the final quarter before loose forward Tom Brennan hacked the ball forward to touch down after Latchford substitute Andy Dean had spilt the ball.
The pressure kick from wide out was in the hands of substitute forward Graham Scott but his sweetly struck shot was just short of the target and it ended Rylands' hopes.
Rylands coaches Pete Fawcett and Neal Mawdsley said: "We're disappointed. It was our inability to turn pressure into points, and a slack 10-minute spell, which cost us the game."
Latchford: Chris Buckley; Paul Daintith, Andy Temple, Ian Fowler, Steve Warburton; John Hennessey, Tim Stuart; Mark Daniels, Glynn Taylor, Mick Green, Sean Mellor, Neil Dickinson, Ady Houghton. Subs: Mark Lord, Derek Smith, Matt Flowers, Andy Dean.
Rylands: Chris Ross, Chris Porrino, Paul Elliott, James Evans, Anthony Poole; Ian Ward, Pete Leonard; Andy Smith, Alan Brinksman, Mike Lee, Mike Ward, Andy Penny, Tom Brennan. Subs: Graham Scott, Paul Stubbs, Andy Garrett, Chris Litherland. Back to top
04/12/1997 v Dalton, Cumbria (away)
Dalton 12Latchford Albion 14
ALBION travelled to Cumbria on Saturday and produced their best performance for some time.
Both defences were on top and it took half an hour before Neil Guest scored after good work from Buckley and Lord. Mellor goaled to make the half-time score 6-0 to Albion.
The second half saw Albion increase their lead with an Andrew Temple try before the home side had their best spell with two tries - the second from a fortunate rebound - and both were goaled to put Dalton 12-10 in front.
Albion looking dangerous with each attack and were rewarded near the end when Lord split the defence for Ian Fowler to score.
Again it was the manner of the team performance which impressed with half back Guest and Lord outstanding along with Mellor, Dean and Flower in the forwards. Back to top