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Under 18’s Match Reports Season 2008/2009
Latchford Albion 18s - 14 Hindley 18s - 22 14th September 2008
This was a day for celebration even before a ball was kicked as it was the first time, latchford had been represented in the NWC Premier Division. Only able to call on 15 players from there 23 man squad, Latchford were looking for the lads available to really put in a fantastic effect and show the team spirit and ability that brought them promotion last season. Dispite the relitivley low numbers of player, Latchford could boast two Internation players again in there ranks Mark Smith BARLA U18s and Anthony Tilley Wales U18s, both players contributed fully to the game.The game started with Latchford for once taking the lead, with some flowing rugby, and looked to continue where they left off last season, with Smith creating a try for debutant Jamie Tomkinson in the corner. After soaking up around 20 tackles due to ill discipline and mistakes in there own quarter Latchford finally conceeded to make the game 4 - 4. The game swung again with both Latchford and Hindley scoring again before half time to make the game 8 - 8, with albions try by Mark Smith again breaking through the hindley defence.After the half Hindley came out the better and took early initative and scored just after the half making it 8 -14, for the next 15 minutes the game became an arm wrestle with the both teams having chances but defences on top. Latchford then after a Hindley penalty got into the Hindley 22 and after completing a good build up Dave Levenston powered over the line, with Smith converting the goal the game was all tied up at 14 - 14. With Latchford collecting a few injuries fatigue began to tell and Hindley's bigger squad became an advantage, with Latchford tiring the bounce of the ball went the way of Hindley who came up with 2 more scores to extend ther lead. Even 10 points behind Latchford kept playing and with Hindley reduced to 11 men due to there indiscipline, Latchford got over the line just to knock on trying to hard to capitalise. The ref blew up this game with Hindley winning 14 - 22.
Latchford gave debuts today to Jamie Tomkinson and former Culcheth Pair Mustapha Bouamra and Wayne McArthur.
Latchford Tries: Smith , Levenston, Tomkinson
Latchford Goals: Smith
Team: Green, Tomkinson, Levenston, Thompson, Tomkinson, Burley, Bouamra, Fleming, Tilley, McAuthur, Hill, Crosby, Smith, Gaskell, Wernham
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12th October 2008
Widnes St. Maries U18s 60
Latchford Albion Unicorns 16
Latchford went to this game with just 15 players, one of whom not feeling to good and a couple carrying knocks from the days before Open Age fixture.
After a magical mystery tour for some of the players only getting to St. Maries for 11.30 due to reading issues and the directions. Latchford still in buoyant mood with a strong looking side and ready to kick start the season.
Latchford got off to there normal start in games these days going 4 - 0 down to a big St.Maries side, but in inimitable style bounced straight back with a try from Jamie Tomkinson in the corner converted by Mustapha Bouamra. Latchford had some sustained pressure and spurned two penalty conversion chances, losing the ball on the subsequent sets of six and losing the momentum in the half, with some good rugby and sustained pressure St. Maries moved further into the lead, with Latchford managing to score just before the break through Dave Levenston to make the halftime score 22 - 8.
After half time Latchford lost the ball from the kick off and the game got gradually worst from that point on, with St. Maries numbers on the bench beginning to tell, Latchford lost Skipper whitehead with a shoulder injury to reduce them to a bare 13, with Latchford tiring St. Maries began to turn the screw and extend the lead, Latchford did have a flourish to show there fighting quality in the last 10 minutes, scoring through Dec Wernham in the corner again converted by Bouamra.
The game was also notable for the Debut of Dan Codling who joins us after a season at Crewe Wolves, travelling from Telford Shropshire to join the Unicorns.
I would also like on a much brighter point to congradulate Dave Levenston for his selection to the Lancashire U18s squad, a deserved accolade for an excellent player and a regular since his transfer from Rylands at U15s. Dave is a leading member of the squad, has been top try scorer in 2 out of his 4 years with us and also has made a number of 1st team appearances this season. This is a fine reward for a player who works hard on and off the field to improve his game and fitness and lets hope he can make the next stage of the representative ladder after impressing over the last 2 seasons in particular for club and in the recent Warrington Service Area team.
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Hindley u18s 18
Latchford U18s 06
It was apt on Rememberance Sunday that the conditions played in today were comparable to Paschendale with mud, mud, mud and driving rain. latchford resumed their fixtures after a short break away at Hindley. With the teams so closley matched it was always going to prove to be a competitive fixture and in these conditions it would be decided by mistakes and luck. This proved to be the case after both sides exchanging possession, Latchford gifted Hindley possession in there own 22mtr area after penalties. In there usual style Hindley made good use of the ball and a well worked scored but contested try in the corner which was not converted. After this the conditions played there part in the game with Latchford playing tight aggressive rugby and Hindley using the ball more expansivley. Hindley made the 2nd break through just before half time after a knockonathon. This left the half time score at 8 - 0.
Latchford were still confident at the break ad came out of teh blocks well but were unable to convert the posession. With both benches coming into play the game ebbed and flowed. Behind the game in the last 20 minutes Latchford started to look for more offloads and this lead to some mistakes which Hindley captalised on to take an 18 - 0 lead. Latchford kept to the task well and scored a converted try under the posts well through Captain Martin Whitehead, which Green converted. With time running down this was the last action of the game.
This game was pleasing for the commitment of the all players who really stood up on what were poor conditions for open fast Rugby and to both sides for a good hard aggressive game played in a good spirit.
Try: Martin Whitehead
Goal: Chris Green
Team: Tomkinson,Burley,Mather,Hayes,Green,Levenston,Bouamra,Gaskell,Major,McArthur
Crosby,Hill,Whitehead(c),Fleming,Andrews,Massey,Lyon
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