Latchford lose out in a game of two halves

HAYDOCK RLFC 54  LATCHFORD ALBION 30
LATCHFORD played their part in a points fest when they visited current champions Haydock in a game which certainly was a game of two halves.
A much changed Albion, with three players on debut, and two returning following breaks from the game, were always going to take time to gel and a well organised Haydock side exploited this during a tough first half where, alongside a 15-5 penalty count and with a completion rate at only 35 per cent, the hosts raced into a 38-4 lead. Albion’s only highlight in the half came when Danny Brown (pictured) barged his way over out wide to put the visitors on the scoreboard.
A stern talk from coach Lee Smith galvanised Latchford who dominated the second half registering five tries through Brown, crossing for his second try, Joe Clarke, Craig Fleming, Jamie Birchall and Lee Smith with George Briggs adding three conversions.
Afterwards, Lee Smith said: “The first half was disappointing as we made it far too easy for Haydock. They are a decent side and we gave them too many opportunities which they duly took. I felt we showed them too much respect and this was proven in the second half when we outscored them 26 -16, which when you take into account their recent form, shows again we have what it takes to compete with the top sides.
“The challenge going forward is to turn in a full eighty minute performance, where if we also tidy up one or two little areas of our game, then I’m confident results will start to go our way as we have shown we have the skill levels required to be competitive at this level.
“We are still quite a new team and every week is a learning curve but we are up to the challenge and we go to Haresfinch next week where we will try to improve and build on the second half performance of the Haydock game.”