1952 - 53 Continued

The next game was to be a relief from the league as Latchford travelled to St Helens to face Clock Face in the Lancs Jnr Cup. It was a disputed goal that decided the Lancashire Junior Cup game at Clock Face on 21^st February 1953. Latchford Albion were the visitors to St Helens a match that ended in a dramatic manner, the local boys winning by a margin of one point after seemingly having the game well won.

Clock Face were the reigning champions of the West Lancashire League and were the current leaders when the two sides met. The home team opened out with brilliance and Latchford were penned in their own quarters for long periods. It was reported that persistent offside play by Latchford resulted in a great number of penalties being awarded against them and the Clock Face kicker, Birch, who was in better form than the previous week, was successful with five attempts.A try by Owen brought Clock Face a half time score of 13 points.

Latchford's reply was a solitary penalty goal by Kingham.

After the interval Latchford put up a spirited display and completely over ran the home side who had no answer to the Warrington side's excellent football. In this period Latchford obtained four tries from Jackson (two), Stockton and Brocklehurst. Sadly Kingham had not brought along his kicking boots. Normally the most accurate marksman in the league Geoff failed to convert any of the tries, costing his side eight points.Birch, on the other hand, had been credited with a further goal, which was disputed by the visiting players. Even the St Helens Reporter newspaper stated that Clock Face were a very lucky team to pass into the semi-final as no-one was quite sure if Birch had kicked four or five penalties. As it was Clock Face claimed the victory 15 points to 14. They went on to defeat Salford Juniors on their way to the final.

Ironically Clock Face's opponents in the Lancashire Junior Cup Final were Wigan Road Working Man's Club from Leigh. It was this club that Latchford had beaten two years

earlier making history by becoming the first-ever amateur team from Warrington to progress to the first round proper of the Challenge Cup.

On the final day of February 1953 Latchford Albion returned to league duty entertaining Cadishead and Irlam at Victoria Park. The Albion team proved much superior to their opposition. Rothwell was in superb form as he relieved Kingham of the kicking duties and registered eight goals. Jackson continued his recent run of success as he claimed a hat trick of tries. Latchford's other try scorers were Collier, Croughton, Carter, Rothwell, Jenkinson and Worrall. The 43 - 5 victory helped keep them on second in the League to Rylands Recs.

A week later they were away to Towers House but didn't have far to travel as their opponents also played at Victoria Park and the game even took place on their usual pitch- number 9!

Latchford won again but failed at the next, and perhaps toughest, hurdle when they played hosts to Rylands Recs leaving them still second but three points behind Rylands in the league. Orford Tannery were third, 2 points behind Albion. On Saturday, 21st March 1953 Latchford Albion entertained Orford Tannery at Victoria Park.

Latchford were second in the Open Age section of the Warrington Amateur Rugby League. They had 26 points from 17 games played, three points behind leaders Rylands Recs who had a game in hand over the Albion. Orford Tannery, with 24 points, were lying fourth but they had played just 14 games, three less than Latchford.

Both teams played good football but Orford displayed the better finish to their movements and turned the scales. Geoff Kingham's two goals gave Latchford four points in reply to the Tannery's 15 points. This lifted Orford above Latchford in the league. Fixtures for the 28th March were much curtailed on account of the Rugby League Cup semi-final at Swinton, where the Warrington Wires were taking on St Helens. Only 2 amateur league fixtures were played. Rylands travelled to Runcorn while Latchford travelled to Hood Lane to play Crosfields.

It was a good game at Hood Lane where Crosfields Recs, still hoping to figure in the first four, were worthy winners over Latchford. The game finished 12-7 with Latchford scoring a try from Derek Brocklehurst and a goal apiece from Geoff Kingham and Johnny Rothwell.

The Albion were already assured of third position in the League with Orford and Rylands battling it out for the top two spots, Rylands being the favourites.

Latchford's final league game of the1952-53 season was a home tie with Lymm RFC and the subsequent win put an end to a run of three successive defeats. Crosfields just failed to gain fourth place, that honour going to Orrs Zinc White who finished on the same points (24) but had a better scoring points difference.

Orford Tannery again beat Rylands and their game in hand to take first place away from them. This meant  that, by finishing top, Orford Tannery would entertain Orrs Zinc White in the play offs. Latchford, meanwhile, had to travel to Gorsey Lane to take on Rylands Recs.

Alongside the Warrington and District Amateur League programme the Aston Cup was competed for in April 1953. Warrington FC sponsored the competition and all games were played at Wilderspool Stadium.

The competition commenced on Good Friday, 3rd April 1953 but Latchford were not due to be in action until the following week. The Albion were drawn to play Crosfields at the stadium, kicking off at 6pm on Friday 10th April. For a variety of reasons the game was not actually played for a couple of weeks and Albion managed to beat the men from Hood Lane 16 points to 7 points. Latchford scored tries through Boardman, Balshaw, Henshaw and Brocklehurst with Kingham and Rothwell kicking a goal each. Crosfields' reply was a try from Brown and two goals from Delooze.

Four days later Latchford Albion were back on league duty. The Warrington Amateur Rugby Football League programme was drawing to a close. Latchford had finished third, which had set up a semi-final game at Gorsey Lane between Rylands Recs and Latchford. The game played on 25th April 1953 showed the two teams were evenly matched. Both sides missed good scoring chances, but the game on the whole was very interesting, with good football shown by both sets of backs. It finished 4 points all with Rylands' Bryers kicking two goals and Geoff Kingham equalling the feat for Latchford.

The replay took place at ood Lane at 3pm Saturday 2nd May. Rylands Recs had the misfortune to lose their captain, Arthur Nurse, with a bad shoulder injury in the first half. This handicap told in the end as Latchford ran out winners in a hard game by 16 points to 10.

Latchford's try scorers were Barlow, Boardman, Balshaw and Marsh. Kingham kicked two goals. For Rylands Recs Sleigh and Whelan were the try scorers and Bryers kicked two goals.

In the other semi-final Orford Tannery took an early lead at Sandy Lane against Orrs Zinc White but were considered fortunate to win. Orrs Zinc White played strongly in the second half and got within winning distance, but the home team managed to keep their lead and qualified for the final for the third successive season.

That final between Latchford Albion and Orford Tannery would be played at Wilderspool Stadium, Friday 8th May. Before that Latchford played on the Monday evening at Wilderspool in the semi-final of the Ashton Cup. Their opponents - Orford Tannery! This 'rehearsal' for the League final saw Latchford winning 8-6 up to the Last minute with tries from Len Balshaw and John Rothwell and a goal from Kingham. However, as the clock ticked down Craven went over to score for Orford who won the match 9 points to 8. First blood to Orford who would now meet Eagle Sports in the Ashton Cup Final.Would Latchford Albion claim revenge in the League Final in four days time?

Latchford Albion, who finished third in the Open Age section of the Warrington Amateur Rugby Football League, became League Champions by defeating Orford Tannery nine points to seven in the last minute of the game at Wilderspool Stadium. Referee Mr F. Whiteley got the game underway at 7.15pm on Friday 8th May 1953. The Albion were the better team, although they lost Ernie Lynskey in the first half through injury.

The Warrington Examiner Newspaper reported: "It was a most interesting game, played in fine sporting manner by two grand teams". There was plenty of good, open football and a finish that kept the spectators keenly interested.

The score was seven points each  with only a minute to go as both teams had scored a try and kicked two goals. Latchford's try scorer was Eric Briscoe, Orford's was Adcroft. The goals came from the boots of Ratcliffe for the Tannery and Geoff Kingham for the Albion. The clock was ticking down the last sixty seconds when Johnny Rothwell very calmly dropped a goal to give the Albion a deserved victory.

Both teams had played hard and merited the congratulations of the League president, Mr T. Williamson when he presented the cup to the Latchford Albion captain, Geoff Kingham. Medals were also presented to both teams. 

Latchford Albion ARLFC Warrington & District Amateur Rugby League Champions 1953   Back row right to left: - Harry Jenkinson, Jim Marsh, Arnold Worrall, Freddie Barlow, John Rothwell, Eric Briscoe.   Middle Row: - Bill Darbyshire, Billy Collier, Geoff Kingham (captain), Dick Croughton, Derek Brocklehurst.   Front row: - Len Balshaw, Tommy Boardman with the Warrington area cup & Championship