LATCHFORD Albion fell to an agonising last-minute 32-28 home defeat to Wigan Spring View on Saturday in an enthralling North West Men's League Challenge Cup fixture.
Albion started well and opened the scoring on five minutes, when hooker Charlie Groarke dummied his way between the posts. Rob marsh converted.
The hosts then suffered a double injury blow when forwards Jack Foulkes and Dec Rourke had to leave the field.
This seemed to affect Albion, and the visitors took full advantage hitting a purple patch as they registered three tries in 10 minutes to seize control of the game by half time.
Coach Martyn Ellis reshuffled his side at the interval and this paid off.
Charlie McCurrie opened the second-half scoring on 45 minutes with a devastating run, leaving defenders in his wake on a 40-metre run to the line.
Shortly after, McCurrie turned provider when his pass freed Ben Harper to race between the posts, with Marsh converting both to nudge the hosts back in front.
The highlights of the afternoon came shortly after, with Alex Davies crossing in his first game for the club for two years following a serious knee injury. Marsh again converted.
Credit to the visitors who registered a converted try and on the hour mark the game was in the balance at 24-20.
On 71 minutes the hosts extended their lead when Rob Marsh raced 50 metres to score in the corner, a score Albion hoped would see them home, but on 77 minutes a further Spring View try saw the lead cut to two points.
With time almost up, the visitors launched one final attack, and spotted a gap in the Latchford defence which they exploited to score the winning try and deny Albion victory.
Albion have a free weekend before their next fixture on May 13 when they travel to Halton Farnworth Hornets.
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