The First League Campaign

Latchford Albion's First League Campaign

The annual meeting of the Warrington and District Amateur Rugby Football League was held at 7.30pm on Tuesday 21st August 1945 at the White Hart Hotel, Sankey Street in Warrington town centre. At the meeting arrangements were made for the commencement of the first league campaign after the enforced break of World War Two.

The clubs who were to form the league for the 1945-46 season were: Lancashire Steel, Latchford Albion, Monks Hall, Culcheth, Rylands Recreation, Eagle Sports, Belle Vue Juniors and Langworthy Juniors. The latter two were both based in the Pendleton area of Salford. Further entries were encouraged in the local press stipulating that there was no age limit.

The first league matches were to be played on Saturday 8th September but a friendly match was played at Culcheth the week before when the Rest of the League played against the Culcheth team. Two of the Culcheth team, scrum half Jerry Helme and centre Frank Lee had just signed for Warrington after successful trials.

Despite only having played competitive Rugby League for six months, Latchford Albion boasted three players in the League's representative squad that travelled up to Culcheth. They were Geoff Kingham, Eric Mather and Jim Marsh. Culcheth won 16-3 with Hughes scoring the League's only try.

A week later and Latchford Albion's first ever League game was a home tie against Rylands Recs. The Albion at that time were playing their home games on ground just off Chester Road. At 3.30pm, Saturday 8th September referee, Mr A. Rutter blew to start proceedings with Latchford only able to field twelve men and suffered defeat against the more experienced Rylands team. Near the end of the game Jim Marsh had to retire with an injury to his ankle. He had tried hard to get the Latchford team working together ably helped by Billy Hughes and Geoff Kingham.

It was Kingham who scored Latchford's first league points with a try and a goal but Rylands played much better as a team and their try scorers were Monteith (2), Bartram, Whiteley and Hill. The latter kicked two goals in the 5-19 defeat.

Regardless of that set-back Kingham, Mather and Marsh were selected to play for the League team who were to play the Warrington 'A' team at Wilderspool on September 15th. The Warrington directors agreed to allow all the Amateur Rugby League players in the Warrington District to use their Wilderspool ground and facilities for training for an hour on Sunday mornings between 11am and 12noon. At first this was on a trial basis commencing on Sunday 30th September but they even loaned those without jersey and shorts some kit and provided excellent coaching from Dai Davies and Tommy Flynn.

Mr Rutter was again the man in charge as the Albion played an away fixture against Eagle Sports at Gorsey Lane. Latchford showed much improvement and were too good for the Eagle team. Tries from mather (2), Jones, Hughes and Kingham plus a goal from Mather set up the 17-0 victory. Forward H. Welsby was the pick of the Eagle players.

Latchford again had to take the field a man down for their next game at Chester Road and were easily defeated by Culcheth. Even so it was Latchford who were the first to score with a penalty by Kingham but the lead was short lived. In the second half Culcheth combined well and scored at will. They had a fine goalkicker in Mains who got 5 goals from various angles. Culcheth's try scorers were Stirrup (3), Riley (2), Charnley and Brown. The young Latchford team battled hard under their handicap but Culcheth were in fine form.

On Saturday 20th October the Albion were fortunate to beat Monks Hall 5-2 at Chester Road. Both team played well but Monks hall were stronger in the forwards department. Latchford lost J. Mather injured before half time. Monks Hall took the lead with a good penalty goal. There was no further score before the break. Early in the second half Latchford scored a try through W. Mather, which was converted by Kingham.

The reverse fixture was also played at Chester Road on 3rd November and proved to be an easier victory as Latchford beat Monks Hall 17-7 to lift themselves to third in the league behind leaders Langworthy and Rylands. The Albion had been the first to score with a try from stand off Billy Hughes. A good try was scored by Ronnie Ryder who was then injured and left the field before half time. Monks Hall tried hard but the Latchford lads were much faster and scored again through Hauff, Brown and George Roughley, while Kingham kicked their only goal. Monks Hall scorers were Woods with a try and Fleming who kicked two goals. Man of the match was Latchford's full back Billy Daniels.

Continuing the story of the 1945-46 season we pick up the thread at 3pm on Saturday, 10th November 1945 as third placed Latchford travelled to Gorsey Lane to take on second placed Rylands and the young Albion team were full value for their fine win. It was a good game but the home team were never allowed to settle down with the Latchford lads always keeping them on the go. Latchford's try through Dick Croughton was the result of some excellent backing up and proved to be the only points of the game. The scrimmaging was rather bad but when the ball came loose both teams tried to open out play. The home forwards had an off day and Latchford capitalised, running out worthy winners and leapfrogging their opponents into 2nd place.

The following weekend saw Latchford away to Lancashire Steel. The Steel won this match 8-2 at Greenings after a hard struggle which saw no score at half time. In the second half the home team asserted themselves and scored through Bloor and Bennett, the latter kicking a goal. Jones kicked a goal for Latchford who were handicapped through an injury to scrum half Geoff kingham.

As the local newspapers reported that Brian Bevan had signed for Warrington, Latchford took on Eagle Sports whose improvement was very marked in this home game at Chester Road. Eagle were unfortunate to lose 10-11 as in the last quarter they were constantly pressing and Latchford were thankful for the whistle. Outstanding for Eagle were Northall, Sixsmith and Lamb while Latchford's top performers were Croughton, Faulkner and Marsh.

The Albion were at home the next week as they again met Lancs Steel. Two simple defensive mistakes cost Steel the match at Chester Road. The greater speed of Latchford was largely negated by their opponents' fine tackling. Chriscoli was their top player while Mather and Daniels were prominent for the Albion. Final score 11-6.

The next match Miller Cup game on 15th December saw Latchford play at Gorsey Lane and win easily over Eagle Sports 34-3.

Latchford were sitting on top of the league with 6 wins from their 9 games as they travelled to Culcheth on 22nd December. They were brought back down to earth losing 23-0 and on 12th January 1946 Rylands gained their revenge beating the Albion 9-5. Played at Gorsey Lane, Rylands took home advantage by scoring first when Mannion broke through from a scrum near the line. Welsby failed at the goal. Just before half time Latchford took the lead following a great try from Mather after a run nearly the full length of the field. Daniels kicked the goal to give the Albion a half time lead. Rylands were soon on the attack in the second half and from a well judged kick Welsby got a try at the corner. This was followed by a good try from Monteith after some good work by Rogerson.

On 12th January Latchford were back at Chester Road entertaining the new league leaders, Culcheth and did well to hold them to a two point lead in this Miller Cup game. Both teams played well in defence with both full backs, Daniels for Latchford and Maines for Culcheth, being the pick of the players. Marsh scored for the Albion and Mather kicked the goal. For Culcheth, Holdcroft cored the try and Maines the two goals to make the final score 5-7.

Another Miller Cup game followed on 2nd February with Latchford beating Eagle Sports 8-3. Eagle put up a good show and could have won but were not steady enough near the line. R. Sixsmith and Clare were always trying hard but offside spoiled two good chances. Sixsmith did score in the first half with Ball scoring Latchford's try allowing D. Jones to convert. It was in the second half that Eagle had the chances and playing with the wind in their favour it looked like being their first win but the Albion played better and in the last minute of the game J. Jones scored another try.

Latchford then had a hard game at Chester Road against Belle Vue with the conditions not helping. Belle Vue scored a try in the first half, which was converted. Latchford were soon on the attack in the second half and scored an unconverted try through Wheeler. The visitors pressed again and from a scrum near the posts scored a good try. The Albion lost Croughton who had to retire through slight concussion. Belle Vue the better team but Latchford had performed well through Wheeler, Daniels and Faulkner.

The Warrington representive team had D. Jones at loose forward with H. Hughes and R. Croughton asked to be reserves. Billy Daniels' full back place was taken by R. Yates of Crosfields. Warrington won 7-6 with Jones going close after bluffing his way through from half way but his kick near the line was misjudged.

Latchford's first season in the league was drawing to a close as our story now enters March 1946. The momentum that had lifted this fledgling club to the dizzy heights at the summit of the league was now replaced by dogged determination to finish with respectability.

Concluding the story of Latchford Albion's first full season sees us enter the final months of the campaign. Running alongside the Warrington and District Amateur League was the Miller Cup competition, which was run as another league. It was in the Miller Cup that Latchford now played Culcheth at Wilderspool on 9th March 1946. At 3.30pm that day Mr Ford blew his whistle to allow the two sides to give an excellent display of good open rugby at Wilderspool Stadium as a curtain raiser to the Warrington/Wigan game. The large crowd fully appreciated their efforts. Culcheth won the toss and opened the scoring after a lovely bout of passing. The goal kick failed and Latchford soon levelled the score following a missed catch by the Culcheth full back. Culcheth then scored again before half time. The visitors increased their lead after the break and the final score was 3-14.

Latchford then went to Hood Lane to meet Crosfields in the Miller Cup short of their three best players. Billy Daniels, Billy Hughes and Dennis Jones were selected to play for the town at Wigan's Central Park. Despite this Latchford attacked from the start and Yates had difficulty clearing from his line. Smith made many attempts to clear but after fifteen minutes stand in hooker, John Garrity scored for the Albion. Crosfields now counter attacked and made the scores level at half time. Latchford started the second half in earnest but poor finishing spurned some splendid scoring chances. Latchford lost a man through injured and the home side capitalised with Thomason and Baskerville scoring tries to make the final score 16-3.

Langworthy Juniors played their first match since Christmas in this league at Chester Road where the Latchford team gave them a good game. Langworthy kicked off against a strong wind and quickly assaulted the Albion defence, scoring a try from a good passing movement. Latchford kicked a penalty goal just before the half time. With the wind in their favour Langworthy put up great pressure and scored a further three tries, converting one. They also kicked a penalty goal as did Latchford in the closing stages. Despite losing 4-16 this young Latchford side were congratulated for giving a good display against the more experienced side from Salford.

Finally Latchford were narrowly beaten  8-9 by Rylands in the semi final of the Miller Cup and so, somewhat sadly,  a season that had promised so much petered out  with a string of defeats. What should be borne in mind though is that this was the club's first full season with a group of youngsters still learning their craft. As such finishing 5th in both the League and Miller Cup tables should not be dismissed lightly.