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Unicorns Under 15’s Match Reports Season 2008/2009
Sunday 21st September 2008
Burtonwood - 28
LAU u15's - 12
With several new players in the team Latchford started steadily and held out a strong running and well organised Bulldogs outfit. A little indecision in defence cost Latchford as the Bulldogs moved into a 14 point lead, after a well taken try from the scrum base. Latchford never let their heads drop and Luke Boden opened the scoring with a well taken individual effort. Luke Wood goaled. Soon afterwards Max Walker went on another trademark barnstorming individual run, busting through numerous tackles to score from inside his own half. Luke Wood goaled. With some unforced errors from Albion, Bulldogs controlled the second half, scoring another unanswered 14 points. Gavin Bennion was unlucky not to score after a strong individual run from the scrum but inexplicably loosing control of the ball in the in goal area. His strong effort throughout deserved a reward. For the first match of the season all the Albion players can be proud of their efforts, especially the newcomers who show great promise for the coming season. A good team performance with plenty to positives.
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Sunday 27th September 2008
Crosfield Cobras - 32
LAU u15's - 20
The Albion continued where they left of last week with an improved performance and pushed the home side who had won their 2 previous games all the way to the final whistle.
After conceding 2 early tries a long range individual effort from Max Walker spurred the side on to play some good rugby. Handling errors again caused problems giving field advantage to Crosfields but some dogged defence kept them at bay. Going forward Latchford caused numerous problems and a smart cross field kick resulted in Gavin Bennion scoring in the corner. The conversions for both score were unfortunately missed which gave a half time score of 16 points to 8 to the home side.
The second half started strongly for Latchford and another excellent score by Walker followed by a conversion by Luke Wood made it 16 – 14 with all to play for. From the restart an error again gave the impetus back to Crosfields and 2 quick scores gave them a 10 point lead. To Latchfords credit they never let their heads down and battled on. A smartly taken Luke Boden try converted by Wood again brought the sides to within 6 points but the effort finally got too much when a Latchford player was sin binned due to flopping in the tackle.
With only 13 to start with and no interchanges the physical effort took it’s toll and the home side managed to score the final points of the game making it 32 – 20 at the end.
To a man the Albion gave their all and they will am sure play worse than they did today and win games . The first win cannot be too far away.
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Latchford Albion Unicorns U 15’s - 12
Shevington Sharks U 15’s - 18
Latchford came into this game full of hope after a slow start to the season. Both sides were yet to register a win and were both fired up to the max.
The
Shevington started to find their feet in the game and dominated the final 10 minutes of the half with constant pressure on the home line. The defence however was awesome with wave after wave of attacking play being thwarted within the 10 meter line. The half ended with the score of 8 nil to Latchford and this was fully deserved after the efforts of all the players.
The second half however was all Shevington who started to claw their way back into the game. Needless penalties were conceded by a home side desperate for some attacking ball and a sin binning only added to the problems.Shevington scored 3 tries in this period which were all converted giving them an
18 to 8
lead.Latchford continued to try but sometimes they tried too hard and spilled possession in their own half. A second sin binning for what looked like a perfectly good tackle seemed to sap the life out of the side. This was compounded when the referee brought the same player back on the park after only 5 minutes stating that he’d done it only to calm things down. This period ultimately cost Latchford any chance of a possible draw in the game as just before Scott Chambers had raced 40 yards to score in a rare opportunity of attacking play in this half. Again this conversion was missed.
The game ended with 3 tries each but the kicks proved to be the difference along with the indiscipline of a side desperate to find their first victory this season
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Sunday 19th October 2008
Westbank Bears U 15’s - 24
Latchford Albion Unicorns U 15’s - 14
The Albion had worked hard in training since their last game and set out with a definite game plan. This plan was followed to the letter in a 1st half that they dominated. The speed of the defensive line was excellent and constant pressure was applied to the home team’s line. An early conceded score did nothing to dampen the player spirits with the forwards dominating and creating opportunities. This domination resulted in 3 tries as Josh Moss, Luke Wood and Gavin Bennion all crossed the try line with Bennion managing to convert just one out of the 3. A half time score of 14 points to 4 in Latchfords favour was fully deserved. The second half however started poorly and the impetus quickly switched to the home side. Being unable to get any attacking ball the defensive efforts started to sap the player’s energy levels.Westbank to their credit used their left hand side superbly and created numerous breaks some of which resulted in points. Playing into a strong headwind didn’t help as the restarts weren’t deep enough and some poor defending also contributed to the side’s demise. A number of tries were conceded and a final score of 24 – 14 was a bitter pill to swallow for a side that had played so well in the 1st half. However their inability to defend well and to make good use of their own attacking ball led to their downfall. Five played and 5 losses but the spirit is there and fingers crossed things will change for the better soon.
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Sunday 2nd November 2008
Latchford Albion Unicorns U 15’s - 24
Chorley Panthers U 15’s - 24
The Albion started the game at 100 miles an hour and efforts were rewarded early on when Gavin Bennion burst through to score under the sticks. Luke Wood converted well. Constant pressure on the visitor’s line was rewarded with a further score when Tom Corroboy smartly scooted in from 15 yards out. Again the try was converted by Wood giving the side a 12 point lead.
They did however take their foot of the gas when more pressure was required and allowed Chorley back into the game. They duly took their opportunities and levelled the scores with 2 well taken tries, both of which were well converted.
The second half couldn’t have started better when Max Walker burst through centre field and sprinted 40 yards to score. The successful conversion by Wood gave the Albion some breathing space.
To the visitors credit they never dropped their heads and some smart play opened the way for 2 tries of there own giving them a 20 points to 18 lead for the first time in the game.Latchford’s determination saw them battle forward and constant pressure on Chorley’s defence was rewarded when Billy Martin powered over the line. Wood converted and with 4 minutes left to play Latchford had the game in the bag.
However they failed to deal with the restart giving the impetuous back to the visitors who took their opportunity to score in the corner right at the death. This levelled the game with the kick to come. The angle proved too much and the game ended as a tie which on reflection was probably a fair result after such a tough and entertaining game of rugby.
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Sunday 9th November 2008
Latchford Albion Unicorns U 15’s - 22
Leyland Warriors U 15’s - 14
The sides first win this season was long awaited after some improved performances as of late. In difficult conditions on a very heavy pitch both sides worked hard with the first score being registered against the run of play when the visitors crossed the try line.
Latchford responded almost immediately when Gavin Bennion broke through centre field to power home with Luke Wood converting. It was end to end stuff throughout the rest of the half with tries being traded by both teams. Ryan Farnan gave the Albion the lead only for Leyland to hit back drawing the team’s level at 10 a piece at half time.
Playing into a strong headwind in the second half the Latchford side started to dominate using the forwards to good advantage. This pressure was rewarded a number of times throughout the half with 2 more scores from Bennion who completed his hat trick and Ryan Farnham getting his second.Latchford restricted the visitors to a solitary score in this half with an excellent defensive effort.
A full time score of 22 – 14 was just reward for an excellent second half overall team performance.
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