A DROP goal with the last kick of the game saw Latchford Albion edge title-chasing Orrell 29-28 in an enthralling game of rugby on Thursday evening.
The opening stages showed no signs of what was to unfold as the visitors opened up a ten point lead within the first ten minutes of the game.
Albion hit back when Charlie McCurrie crossed out wide on 15 minutes to open the scoring for the home side.
A third Orrell try, which was converted, saw them consolidate their lead but McCurrie crossed for his second try of the evening, Rob Marsh converting, and at half time the game was in the balance.
The second half started out as a close encounter (Latchford 10 – Orrell St James 16) with both sides going set-for-set waiting for the other to crack, and it wasn’t until the hour mark when the first score came.
Fortunately it was the hosts who got back on level terms when River Cole scored his first try for the club, Marsh converting.
The visitors regained the lead shortly after with an unconverted try.
Albion took the lead for the first time in the game on 70 minutes and it was Cole again who finished off a great Latchford attack to register his second try, Marsh converting.
Albion went back to back and opened up an eight point lead when McCurrie crossed for his hat-trick try which they hoped was sufficient to seal the win.
Orrell showed why they are the current champions by not giving in and on 77 minutes a converted try brought them within two points.
On 79 minutes the visitors were awarded a penalty which they duly converted to level the game 28-28 and it seemed a draw was to be the result.
Albion had other ideas and pressed for the win, and got themselves in position to allow Ellis to calmly slot the ball over from a drop goal attempt with the final play of the game so seal a fantastic victory for the hosts in a pulsating game.
Coach Martyn Ellis added “That game showed what spirit we have within this young side. There were a few occasions where the game could easily have gone away from us but we stayed in the fight, and got the rewards.
Orrell are a decent side who have consistently been at the top end of the league for the last three or four years, so to get the win shows how far we have progressed.
We have had games this year where I felt we haven’t gotten the right outcome given our efforts so this win certainly shows what we are capable of.”
Latchford have a couple of free weekends with the next fixture 19 August when they travel to Ashton Bears.
