Latchford Albion 18 Bold Miners 28.

LATCHFORD Albion pushed Bold Miners to the wire in the opening game of their North West Counties Amateur Rugby League Premier Division season.

That was despite promoted Albion being without six first-team regulars due to holidays and having two players sin-binned during the match.

The result was in the balance after a Kris Buckley converted try and a Matt Drinkwater penalty with 10 minutes to go left Latchford four points adrift, but Bold sealed their win with a converted try in the 79th minute.

Iain Fowler scored Latchford's only try of the first half as they turned around 10-6 behind.

Bold sandwiched man of the match Matt Taylor's try from 40 metres out with two tries to go 22-10 ahead.

Latchford: Kris Buckley; Craig Middlemore, Russ Parkman, Iain Fowler, Andy Rowlinson; Matt Drinkwater, Ryan Barnes; Andy Dean, Glyn Taylor, John Williams, Matt Taylor, Tony Faitaua, Mike Bishop. Subs: Lyndon Taylor, Jimmy Harrison, Ben Fawcett.

* Any open-age players wishing to join Latchford Albion are invited to attend training at Victoria Park on Mondays and Thursdays from 6.30pm to 8pm.