A DISAPPOINTING second half display saw Latchford Albion fall to a 52-12 defeat at in-form Widnes Tigers.
The first half was a close affair but Latchford started strongly and opened the scoring in the very first minute when hooker Phil Woollacott spotted a gap in the Tigers defence to race under the posts from dummy half, Jack Phillips adding the extras.
The home side hit back with a converted try to level the scores, and a further score just before half time saw them take the lead at 10 – 6 at the break.
In a carbon copy of the first half, Woollacott crossed again from the dummy half position in the opening minutes, again Phillips converted.
Unfortunately that was as good as it got for Albion as the hosts raised their game and hit the visitors with three tries in 10 minutes to seize the initiative.
Albion started to tire on a humid day and, due to injuries, were left with only one interchange for the last 20 minutes. The hosts took full advantage of this to run away with the victory leaving the visitors on the wrong end of a heavy scoreline.
Bolton Mets 28 Latchford Albion Alliance 22
A valiant effort from Latchford’s Alliance side ultimately fell short against a determined Bolton side.
The visitors started strongly and were up 10 – 0 in the opening exchanges. Ian Johnson opened the scoring when he galloped in from 30 yards out. The lead was extended further when impressive half back Sam Dobson dummied his way through the oncoming defence, to cross near the posts, Owen Nugent adding the conversion.
Bolton’s response was to hit Latchford with two quick fire tries, which were both crucially converted, edging them ahead at the break 12 – 10.
An early error by Latchford in the second half gifted field position to the hosts, which they took full advantage of, to score in the opening minutes. This spurred the hosts on and by the hour mark they had extended their lead to 28 – 10, leaving Latchford with an uphill battle.
Credit to the Albion lads, who managed to claw their way back into the game. Firstly Dave McGuinness span out of the tackle and held off two defenders to ground the ball, and shortly after, wing Jake Ashton showed great pace to race under posts with Nugent converting both tries to reduce the deficit to just six points going into the last ten minutes.
Albion laid siege to the Bolton line but could not find a way through a determined defence who held on to seal victory in an enthralling encounter in which the result was in the balance until the final whistle.
Both sides are back in action this weekend. Albion host Wigan St Patrick’s whilst the Alliance side travel to Higginshaw. Both games kick off at 2.30pm
