THERE was disappointment for Crosfields and Woolston Rovers in this weekend’s amateur rugby league action, but Latchford Albion were able to celebrate their first victory of the season.

Crosfields were in charge of their game against Wigan St Patricks at Hood Lane having taken an 18-8 lead in the second half, but they succumbed to a fightback from the visitors who snatched a late 28-24 victory late on.

Braces from Nathan Taylor and Dylon Braddish were in vain for Soap, with Brad Stanway scoring their other try.

“We had the game in our grasp, but this is how tight it is in the top half of this division where one minute you’re in the driving seat, then a couple of missed tackles later your fighting for a last gasp winner,” said head coach Rob Campbell, who will now prepare his side for a trip to Leigh Miners Rangers on Saturday.

“The lads gave their all, that’s for sure, but these small steps of improvement are all part of our building and maturity.”

Meanwhile, Rovers head coach Liam Lawton says his side were “their own worst enemy” as they fell to a fifth defeat in a row at Clock Face Miners.

Woolston were beaten 30-8 having never recovered from falling 12-0 behind inside the game’s first quarter.

Tries either side of half time from Alex Pendlebury and Ben Dixon gave them hope of a comeback, but the hosts were able to stretch away late on.

A trip to National Conference League Division One leaders Dewsbury Moor Maroons awaits next, but Lawton insists his side will soon turn a corner.

“We were our own worst enemy at the start of the game and that allowed Clock Face to get off to a good start and we never really recovered from that,” he said.

“We did have spells where we caused them plenty of problems but we weren’t clinical enough to take those chances.

“The lads dug deep once again and if we continue to stick together then we will turn the tide pretty quickly.

“Dewsbury Moor are top of the league and lost for the first time last weekend so we will be going there ready for a tough game, but one that we will certainly not be taking a backward step in.”

A strong second half performance saw Albion record their first league victory of the campaign on Saturday.

Latchford’s first victory of the North West Men’s League Premier Division season came courtesy of a strong second-half performance against Folly Lane on Saturday.

With the game level at 4-4 at the break after Logan Lagar had crossed to cancel out the visitors’ opener, Ben Harper and Josh Barnard touched down early in the second half to establish a 10-point lead.

Folly hit back with a converted try on the hour mark, but any hopes of a comeback were quickly extinguished by a quickfire Mike Walker double before a late River Cole try sealed an impressive 26-10 win for Albion, who host Orrell St James in their next fixture on Friday night.