Latchford Albion Unicorns U17 - 26
Culcheth Eagles U17 - 16

With our opening game cancelled last week this game against Culcheth became the season's opener and it lived upto its promise as a local derby match.

The game started in fine style with Latchford's probing attacks resulting into points, which seemed to settle Latchford into a good rhythm. As Latchford's pack gained control of the match, the backs began to get some room to play and the lead was extended to 20
points by half time.

The second half started with normal service until tempers started to get raised in the heat and, with a loss of a Latchford player, Culcheth grew more confident and came at Latchford again. The visitors scored two quick tries to bring the scores to 20-10. With the
sides temporarily evened up Latchford scored again when there was about quarter of an hour to go. To their credit Culcheth came back again and scored the final points of the game. The game was soured slightly by a fluke injury to Carl Litherland, who sustained a broken hand from a tackle in normal play. All the boys wish Carl a speedy recovery

The day also marked two excellent debuts from Dave Leverston and Sam Mitchell. It also saw the return to Latchford of Tom Silvester, who capped a good performace getting on the score sheet.

Scorers: Litherland, Mitchell, Silvester, Green, Fleming
Goals: Pemberton 3

Team: Sinclair-Smith, Green, Styles, Jones, Crosby, Thompson, Pemberton, Leverston, Walker, Fleming, Silvester, Litherland, Mitchell, Jones, Jenness Back to top

17/09/2006 v Langworthy Reds (away)

Langworthy Reds U17 -14
Latchford Albion Unicorns U17 -22

This was a Jeckyll and Hyde performance that told its own story. Latchford travelled into Manchester, which has never been the best hunting ground for them in the past having
never won there. The game marked an excellent debut by Tom Mather and saw the return of Anton Mason to the side. In the first half, dispite a lot of effort and a strong defence, Latchford's own errors led to them being down 12-0 at the break.

After a shuffle round, which saw the introduction of Walker and Mason, the game changed and Latchford got into their rythmn. After scoring early and dominating the early exchanges, forcing error after error from their opponents, Latchford conceded a silly penalty to go 14-6 down. The Albion again turned up the heat on an already humid day and outshone the sun to score another three tries with some high octane rugby, 2 of which were converted. With the defence holding strong and confidence running high the score finished with Latchford winning by 8 pts.

Tries: Leverston 2, Walker, Fleming
Goals: Smith 3

Team: Sinclair-Smith, Jones, Mather, Jones, Green, Thompson, Pemberton, Leverston, Walker, Fleming, Jenness, Silvester, Mitchell, Styles, Walker, Mason, Smith Back to top

24/09/2006 v Mayfield Mustangs (away)

Mayfield Mustangs U17 - 6
Latchford Albion Unicorns U17 - 56

This game started in unusual fashion for Latchford as Rochdale were broken open on the first two possessions of the game to give the Unicorns a 10-0 lead in the first few minutes. After this there followed a 15 minute period of stalemate caused by Latchford's lack of discipline and the ball not going to hand with what looked like two certain trys ruled out. Then, just before the break Latchford again hit the excelerator and surged further ahead to lead 18-0 at the break.

After the break, and a few well chosen words, Latchford again for the second week running awoke from a slow start to play hard free-flowing Rugby. They surged ahead with an other couple of tries. As Mayfield started to tire at near the end of the game and gaps
started to appear Latchford again surged to make the win comfortable. Mayfield did get a try late on and never stopped working thoughout the game.

Tries: Leverston,Green, Jones 3, Smith, Mason 2, Silvester, Walker
Goals: Smith 5, Leverston, Green, Pemberton, Mason

Team: Sinclair-Smith, Mather, Jones, Styles, Silvester, Pemberton, Mason, Leverston, Walker, Fleming, Mitchell, Smith, Thompson, Whitehead, Green, Jones. Back to top

01/10/2006 v Widnes Tigers (home)

Latchford Albion Unicorns U17 - 18
Widnes Tigers U17 - 6

The Tigers in this game started by showing their claws in this physical encounter when, capitalising on an early Latchford error, they crossed for the first try of the game and converted. This sprung Latchford into life with a jolt and, after some hardhitting defence,
Latchford regained the ball and made the most of it to score. With more bruising defence from both sides, Latchford just managed to sneak ahead at the break, when a long pass found it way to the wing for Latchford's second, which was duly converted. Ht 12-6

In the second half the game followed the same pattern with defences on top and both teams probing for a way through. Both sides got repeat sets and the game was not for the faint-hearted. The only score of the half came from latchford, under the Tigers' posts. The game flowed back and frow and only some strong defence from Latchford on their line and some good scrambling defence kept Widnes at bay.

An individual Man of the Match, would be impossible to give as every player, excelled and gave 100% in this encounter. Tries came from Sinclair-Smith, Jones and Smith, while Smith kicked 3 goals

Team:
Sinclair-Smith, Mather, Styles, Jones, Jones, Pemberton, Whitehead, Leverston, Walker, Fleming, Mitchell, Silvester, Smith, Green, Jenness, Crosby, Mason. Back to top

15/10/2006 v Culcheth Eagles (away)

Culcheth Eagles u17s - 16
Latchford Albion Unicorns u17s - 28

This was a match best summed up as an error-athon, with knock ons and penalties in abundance. Latchford were still able to field 18 players despite being without several players. Latchford opened the scoring with a try in the corner that was not converted. After some errant passing Latchford gave Culcheth an easy chance to score and take the lead. The game moved back and to with the deadlock only broken when Walker made a break to create Latchford's second score. Again Culcheth came back to make the game 10-10 at half time.

In the second half, Latchford again started brightly scoring and going 10-16 up, this spurred Culcheth to their best period and they scored to make the game 14-16. Only some last ditch defence from Latchford prevented Culcheth from taking control of the
game. Two late tries from Latchford made the result safe and gave a rather flattering scoreline.

Although not the best performance of the season Latchford's effort was good and a special mentions must go to Leverston, Mason, Josh Jones, Green and Sinclair-Smith. The game also marked a good debuts for Andrew Hayes and Aiden Johnson who have recently joined the club from Warrington Rugby Union Club and Rylands Sharks
respectively.

Tries: Leverston 3, Sinclair-Smith, Mitchell
Goals: Mason 3, Styles

Team: Sinclair-Smith, Jones, Mather, Thompson, Green, Pemberton, Mason, Johnson, Walker, Leverston, Josh Jones, Jenness, Whitehead, Crosby, Fleming, Styles, Mitchell, Hayes Back to top

22/10/2006 v Blackpool Scorpions U18 (home) U18 Lancs Cup

Blackpool Scorpions conceded this match on the morning of the game. Latchford have now drawn Rylands Sharks U18 at home to be played 5th November Back to top

29/10/2006 v Mayfield Mustangs (home)

Latchford Albion Unicorns U17 - 50
Mayfield Mustangs U17 - 12

The score does not reflect how close this game was in the opening period. Latchford started this game slowly and did not seem to be awake in the games opening period and it was no suprise when the visitors took an early lead, Latchford then marched up the field and scored a couple of tries which were not converted. Mayfield then took the lead after some more good play down the left hand side, again converting, Latchford
again scored wide out and this time converted to lead 14-12 at half time.

After a half time reminder on the basics of rugby and a reminder about attitude, Latchford came out of the blocks gunning for Mayfield and began to show their class from the start. Two quick tries in the opening 10 minutes of the half, rocked Mayfield back on their
heels and allowed Latchford to settle. With the introduction over the first part of the second half of Latchford's much bigger bench, the advantage in size and speed started to tire Mayfield. With Latchfords defence now back to normal levels of intensity and the
by now relentless completions and good ball movement from Latchford the floodgates opened in the last 15 minutes allowing Latchford to score another 4 unanswered tries.

Some individual performances and attitudes needs to be better and the focus more tuned next week in our Cup Quarter Final verses Rylands.

Tries: Sinclair-Smith, Pemberton 2, Levington, Walker, Smith, Jones, Hayes, Mather.
Goals: Mason 4, Smith, Pemberton, Styles

Team:
Sinclar-Smith, Hayes, Styles,Thompson, Mather, Pemberton,Mason, Leverston, Walker, Mitchell, Jenness, Jones, Smith, Green, Litherland, Crosby, Fleming, Jones. Back to top

05/11/2006 v Rylands Sharks (home) U18 Lancs Cup

Latchford Albion Unicorns U17 - 4
Rylands Sharks U18 - 70

On Bonfire Night you can always expect fireworks and so it proved in this game, although in this contest Latchford only ended up with the Sparklers. Up against it from the start with a Rylands side boasting three BARLA Internationals and several Lancashire (NWC) players and giving away a full two years in age in some players cases.

Latchford started off brightly and completed their first couple of sets of 6, then with lightening pace, Rylands struck dragging the Latchford defence one way then the other. Two more tries followed in quick succession before Latchford could mount a serious
attack this time after some good ball movement allowed Chris Jenness to score out wide with the overlap to make the score 4-18. The half then meandered along with some good defence and spirited running from the young Latchford side, but could not pervent Rylands scoring another two converted tries to make it 4-30 at half time.

Latchford in the second half came out and attempted to arrest the arrears, with too much effort, you get more mistakes and so it proved, with Latchford handing over the ball cheaply Rylands began to capitalise and Latchford began haemorrhage points. This is where the gulf in age and class began to tell and in the last ten minutes Rylands turned the screw with the final score finished 4-64 (official score registered as 4-70). The effort and desire for most of the game from the younger Latchford players was notable. Heads will have to be lifted quickly to get back to the league campaigne where the lads still remain unbeaten.

Team: Sinclair-Smith, Hayes, Mather, Jones, Thompson, Pemberton, Mason, Leverston, Walker, Mitchell, Jenness, Crosby, Smith, Green, Mason, Styles, Litherland Back to top

12/11/2006 v Westhoughton Lions (away)

Mayfield Mustangs U17 - 8
Latchford Albion Unicorns U17 - 46

This was the first game of the season to be played in winter conditions and it took the young Albion side time to awake from hibernation. Rochdale took a well deserved lead as Latchford failed to keep hold of the ball in wet and muddy conditions, spilling posession in their own 25m zone on numerous occasions early on. Rochdale then were gifted another 2 points from some Latchford ill-discipline attempting to debate the decision with the official.

From this point though Latchford awoke kicked the ball to touch from the kick off and from the resulting scrum and subsequent possession Anton Mason scored under the posts, with the conversion, 8-6. From the resulting possession, Latchford again playing off the
back of a deep touch kick forced the error and came up with more points this time on the wing from the improving Andy Hayes, again converted by Smith. The half meandered to a close with the score at 8-12, the only event of note was an injury to scrum half Mason. With the game back in their hands Latchford went into the half time relieved.

In the second half Latchford went out with the composure that they forgot in the first half and began to take control of the game, with Smith and Pemberton in the halfbacks now starting to dicate. Points began to accumulate steadly and the extra numbers on the
Latchford bench began to have an effect on a tyring Mayfield side. With the most spectacular effort coming from debutant Ben Burrows who picking up a kick on his own line, returned the ball 100m to score under the Mayfield sticks.

Latchford today welcomed two players, as mentioned above Ben Burrows who scored on debut and also the return of former player Kenny Turner, both players had strong opening games and we wish them well for the future.

Sinclair-Smith, Hayes, Smith, Jones, Green, Pemberton, Mason, Fleming, Walker, Mitchell, Jenness, Leverston, Styles, Thompson, Turner, Crosby, Litherland, Jones,
Burrows.

Tries: Hayes 3, Smith 2, Burrows, Walker, Jones, Mason
Goals: Smith 7 Back to top

07/01/2007 v Culcheth Eagles (away)

Culcheth Eagles U17 - 20
Latchford Albion Unicorns U17 - 12

The day started with Latchford sporting their new kit on and off the field. With a full squad available to pick from Latchford were confident and looking smart. The game was played in rain and on a heavy pitch and it was never set to be a classic and so it proved. From the start Culcheth came out in determined fashion and went into a deserved two try lead. Latchford then awoke a little and offered some resistance, getting on the score sheet making it 12-6 at half time

In the second half the game was a much more even contest with one try each team and a converted penalty to Culcheth. With the clock running down Latchford tried everything to score but nothing seemed to go to hand.

Tries: Thompson, Josh Jones
Goals: Smith 2

Team: Sinclair-Smith, Hayes, Jones, Thompson, Jones, Pemberton, Mason, Fleming, Walker, Mitchell, Leverston, Styles, Smith, Green, Crosby, Litherland, Jenness, Shaw Back to top

28/01/2007 v Westhoughton Lions (home)

Latchford Albion Unicorns U17s - 26
Westhoughton Lions U17s - 6

Even in the tricky, windy conditions offered today, this game was about turning around a recent slump in form and looking to consolidate our good league position. The cause was also helped by the return of a number of players unavailable to us in the last couple
of weeks due to work and illness. Latchford came out playing safety first early on in the strong windy conditions and after exchanging sets began to dominate the early exchanges, with Latchford beginning to settle their defence became strong and Westhoughton we unable to escape there own half for long periods. After some early mistakes either due to one pass too many or the weather conditions Latchford crossed in the corner, with a Aaron Shaw his first for the club. Latchford again pilled on the pressure and were rewards with two more tries in the half both of which on the flanks, unconverted in the wind.

At the break and several changes Latchford came out again and began where they had left off, with an increasing appathy creeping in Westhoughton came back into the game. Due to a moment ill discipline Latchford were then reduced to 12 players and Westhoughton on a roll got some points on the board. After this Latchford switched back on and scored another 3 tries, ironically due to injuries on the Westhoughton team due to the aggression in the Latchford defence, westhoughton were reduced to 11 players by the end of the game. It is also worth mentioning that Anton Mason (scrum half) and
Sam Mitchell (forward interchange) played in the physical encounter with Millom in the National Cup twenty four hours earlier.

Tries: Aaron Shaw, Jamie Thompson, Anton Mason, Dave Walker, Andy Hayes, Craig Fleming.
Goal: Mark Smith Back to top

04/02/2007 v Widnes Tigers (away)

Widnes Tigers U17 - 7
Latchford Albion Unicorns U17 - 14

Finding themselves 6-0 down at half time in a game with limited scoring opportunities Latchford needed to turn the game around if they were to keep their season on the right track. Such was the respect shown by their opponents that Widnes elected to kick a drop goal after the break. It was then that Latchford started to respond. Good support play from scrum half Martin Whitehead saw him cross and Mark Smith add the extras. Latchford were awarded a penalty for a head high tackle and taking a leaf out of their hosts' book Smith kicked it over to give the Unicorns a one point lead. The game was sealed when Whitehead ran round from the base of a scrum to score and the sure footed Smith duly converted.

Team
Sinclair-Smith, Hayes, Thompson, Levenston, Matther, Mason, Whitehead, Fleming, Walker, Mitchell, Josh Jones, Jenness, Smith
Subs used, Burrows, Pemberton, Green, Styles
Subs not used Jon Jones, Shaw, Crosby Back to top

11/02/2007 v Mayfield Mustangs (home)

Latchford Albion Unicorns U17 - 32
Rochdale Mayfield Mustangs U17 - 10

This was a game that was predicted as an easy win and Latchford also had a great incentive seeing that Mayfield had only travelled with 12 players. As it turned out it was a shocking performance with Latchford attempting to score from every play and never really
settling against a resolute Mayfield team, who took the early lead in this game. As so many times this season Latchford awoke and began to play and went in after a scrappy first half with a slender 16-10 lead.

After some harsh words at half time, Latchford's underpar defence awoke and stopped the go forward of mayfield and, with the visitors from Rochdale tiring, Latchford began to exploit their opponents on the flanks, with wingman Burrows completing his hat trick late in the second half. Latchford must up their game for the coming enounter and look at there mental frailties and attacking decision-making if they are to push on to better
things this year.

Tries: Burrows 3, Leverston 2, Jon Jones 1
Goals: Mason 3, Green 1

Green, Burrows, Thompson, Leverston, Jones, Mather, Mason, Mitchell, Walker, Jenness, Litherland, Crosby, Styles, Sinclair-Smith, Josh Jones, Fleming, Smith Back to top

25/02/2007 v Langworthy Reds (away)

Langworthy Reds U17 - 8
Latchford Albion Unicorns U17 - 6

Latchford went into this game without 4 players but were still able to boast a strong 17 players for this top of the table clash. Latchford started the game well and completed their sets of six in fine style forcing mistakes from the kicks. Then, in a try more at home
in an American Football Game, Langworthy scored against the run of play. After some more tentitive exchanges, Latchford conceded a penalty and Langworthy scored a well worked try in the corner, catching the Unicorns napping. After this mad five minutes the game settled into a 'knockonathon', with both sides handling somewhat lax under pressure.

The second half was much to the same pattern with Latchford becoming more expansive in an attempt to chase the game. With kicks going astray, passes not going to hand the game meandered a long until 5 minutes to go when Latchford scored from a penalty to set up a grandstand finish to this somewhat taudry game. With Latchford pressing, the ball would not go to hand, as the clock ticked down.

This was a hard game, played in excellent spirit between two good sides and with the crowd playing their role in this enthralling match with loud and polite support

Try & Conversion: Mark Smith

Team: Sinclair-Smith, Burrows, Levenston, Thompson, Green, Mather, Pemberton, Fleming, Walker, Mitchell, Jenness, Jones, Smith, Litherland, Crosby, Shaw, Styles. Back to top

04/03/2007 v Culcheth Eagles (home)

Latchford Albion Unicorns U17 - 22
Culcheth Eagles U17 - 16

This game was played in conditions that were not really condusive to fast flowing rugby, with muddy ground, driving rain and a howling wind. In these conditions a classic was never going to be in the making and so it proved. Culcheth started this game the better storming into a 10-0 lead, with there bigger pack adapting to the conditions somewhat better than the lighter quicker Unicorns side. As the half progressed Latchford came
more and more into the game, resulting in a converted try. With the time running down, Latchford got a penalty close to the posts which was missed in the swirling wing making the half time score 6-10.

In the second half Latchford came out with clearer objectives and began the half on the front foot soon scoring to make the game 12-10, then with the momentum in there favour Latchford scored again out wide to stretch the lead to 16-10. In the cold wet conditions ball handling was always difficult and a mistake at the rook in the unicorns 22m line allowed a resolute Culcheth side the ball in a good area, after good pressure Culcheth scored under the posts. After a little luck, Latchford gained the ball in the Culcheth 22 and after sustained pressure scored with good handing near the line. Culcheth kept going and only good defence kept the Culcheth attack from crossing the line, final score 22-16

Tries: Smith, Shaw, Jones, Jenness.
Goals: Smith 3

Team: Sinclair-Smith, Burrows, Josh Jones, Smith, Thompson, Mason, Whitehead, Fleming, Walker, Jenness, Levenston, Crosby, Styles, Green, Mitchell, Pemberton,
Litherland, Shaw. Back to top

11/03/2007 v Langworthy Reds (home)

Latchford Albion Unicorns U17 - 10
Langworthy Reds U17 - 22

No match report submitted Back to top

18/03/2007 v Westhoughton Lions (away)

Westhoughton Lions U17 - 23
Latchford Albion Unicorns U17 - 0

No match report submitted Back to top

25/03/2007 v Widnes Tigers (away) four pointer

Widnes Tigers U17 - 12
Latchford Albion Unicorns U17 - 8

This was an excellent game of rugby with some strong defence and running played on a small, but firm pitch. Latchford started well and took a two nil lead after gaining a string of penalties in front of the posts. With the wind at their backs, Latchford gained momentum and the ascendency, scoring a converted try just before half time.

In the second half Latchford worked hard to make headway against the wing and although getting into good positions failed to convert any more oppertunities. With Latchford constantly defending in the second half, Widnes came back and score in the corner an unconverted try. With a minute to go Tigers scored again from a culmination of Latchford errors, this was converted to give Tigers the lead, Latchford went for the short kick off, gave away the penalty and Tigers kicked the goal from the halfway, for the final scores of the game.

This was a wholehearted peformance for the young Albion side and although a defeat, the way the game was played and the spirit in which the lads went about their game, really gives encouragement for the future.

Try: Smith
Goal: Smith 2

Team: Sinclair-Smith, Crosby, Thompson, Jones, Mather, Mason, Whitehead, Fleming, Walker, Mitchell, Styles, Levenston, Smith, Shaw, Pemberton, Burrows, Litherland, Green. Back to top

01/04/2007 v Langworthy Reds (home)

Latchford Albion Unicorns U17 - 22
Langworthy Reds U17 - 34

This was a gutsy performance by a depleted Latchford side reduced to 14 players for many reasons. With influential player Mark Smith away playing for England Colleges and injuries and Illness taking it toll on the squad.

The game started slow, with Latchford giving Langworthy a 12-0 lead before they started to play. After this honours were very much even with the pressure of playing for the League title on their shoulders, Langworthy began to make errors and the Unicorns hung on in there. With 2 tries in the half Latchford trailed 24-12 at half time and were very
much in the game.

The second half started Latchford Lost 2 more players to injury reducing the team on the field to 11 players, this did not seem to detract from the performance, with Latchford playing the better stuff on the day and with the bounce of the ball maybe the scores would
have been closer. Near the end of the game Latchford capped a fine battling performance with quick tries, one from an overlap.

This was the last league game of the season, one which has been up and down and one which I am sure all the boys will learn from. With the Warrington Cup Final next week the season is still very much alive though.

Tries: Green, Levenston, Thompson 2
Goals: Mason 3

Team: Sinclair-Smith, Shaw, Thompson, Jones, Burrows, Mather, Mason, Fleming, Green, Levenston, Litherland, Hayes, Walker, Crosby Back to top