LATCHFORD Albion had further international representation when players, Charlie McCurrie and Matty Rudd, were both selected for the England Universities 2022 Tri Nations squad.
The tournament was held in Ireland, with both players making valuable contributions to the victories over the two games seeing them undefeated and crowned champions.
Rudd scored a try and added six goals in a 48-12 victory over Scotland, and McCurrie crossed for a try in the 48-4 win over Ireland meaning England was crowned as champions.
The selection was a reward of the consistently high levels of performance both players have produced over the last couple of seasons, the achievement also shows their commitment as, often they would have training sessions in Sheffield on a Saturday morning, before marking the long journey back in time to represent Albion in the afternoon.
Albion fell to a heavy 34-0 defeat against an in form Halton Farnworth Hornets – a game they would rather forget…
With the hosts having the advantage of a strong breeze at their backs in the first half, it allowed them to have plenty of possession in the Albion half. They took full advantage and caught Albion out twice in the opening 10 minutes when they scored off last tackle plays to open up an early 12-0 lead.
Although the visitors got a foothold in the game and started to apply pressure they could not find a way through the home defence, and on the half-hour mark the hosts crossed again to put them in full control at the break.
Any possible thoughts of a comeback were quickly extinguished with a converted try from Halton on 45 minutes.
Albion had to do it tough for the last 20 minutes with Ben Harper, Matt Nash, and Mike Walker suffering injuries in a tough afternoon for the visitors leaving them with only one interchange, but this was not to take away from the hosts who played some good rugby and fully deserved the victory.
Latchford have two free weekends to hopefully recover and regroup before they face the long trip to Heysham Atoms on Saturday July 16.
