Stunning second half sees Latchford rack-up 66-20 victory

A STUNNING second half performance saw Latchford Albion rack up the points on the way to a comprehensive 66-20 victory over Heysham Atoms.
Albion started well and opened the scoring in the opening minutes, scrum half Matthew Ellis cleverly dummying his way through the oncoming defence. Matty Rudd added the conversion.
A Latchford error, and subsequent penalty, gifted the visitors field position, which they took full advantage of to register a converted try to level the scores.
Albion regained the lead soon after, this time Ellis turned provider when his cross field kick was collected by Gareth Fairhurst who then managed to cross out wide.
Again Heysham responded with a second try and on 30 minutes the scores were tied at 10-10
Latchford took control of the game with two quick-fire tries ahead of the interval.
Firstly Fairhurst crossed again, this time benefiting from some quick hands along the line.
On the stroke of half time, Danny Brown made a break through the visitors defence, and found Charlie Groarke in support to take the pass and score near the posts. Rudd’s conversion put Albion in a good position on 20-10 at half time.
As with the first half Albion started strongly. On 42 minutes Rob Marsh made a good break, and was ably supported by Charlie McCurrie who raced 20 yards to score, Rudd converting.
Heysham hit back with a converted try, but the hosts then hit top gear and took full control of the game.
First, McCurrie scored his second try of the afternoon, taking full advantage of a great pass by full back Matty Rudd who joined the line at pace to create the gap, Rudd also converting
Next to cross was Matthew Nash, who found space out wide after quick hands from the Albion backs caused mayhem in the visitors’ defence.
McCurrie soon registered his hat trick try, again benefitting from the gap created by Rudd, who then duly added the touchline conversion.
The scoring continued when Eliis’ cross field kick was collected by Ben Harper, who held off two defenders to plant the ball down.
Nash then scored his second of the afternoon. Again good quick hands allowed the second rower the chance to crash over the line.
Next Harper scored again, showing great pace to race in from 40 yards out.
Albion’s scoring was completed when Marsh put McCurrie through a gap to cross by the posts,
Rudd adding the subsequent conversions.
Credit must go the visitors who kept trying until the final whistle, and were rewarded with a final converted try, but it was mere consolation as the hosts registered a victory which allowed them to move into fourth place on the league table.
Coach Martyn Ellis said: “ We have had a couple of tough games, which we expected coming into this division. My main advice to the lads was to start enjoying their rugby and the performances will follow. We did this today and played some fantastic rugby at times.
“We still have lots to work on, but we are certainly being competitive and every game we play, we are adapting more and more to the higher level of rugby, and we are getting closer to where we want to be “
This Saturday sees another home fixture when Albion host Halton Farnworth Hornets at the ASICS Victoria Park Arena, Kick off 2.30PM.
Pictured is Charlie Groarke, who scored his first ever open age try in the game.