Latchford Albion Rugby League club are celebrating this week after beating Bank Quay Bulls A in the semi-final of the Warrington Alliance Cup and this victory reflects the success which the club as a whole are enjoying in 2012.

The club have 56 players currently registered and this season are running a second team for the first time since 2007 something which first team coach mike Byron puts down to playing in the summer.

Mike Byron said: “It’s hit and miss whether we get all 56 every week due to work commitments but we’ve been able to run two teams this season for the first time for five years.

“Playing in the summer has definitely helped. I played for 20 years in the winter in the mud and rain and wasn’t a fan of summer Rugby League up until five or six years ago when one of my mates went to play for Warrington Wizards.

“We’ve found this year that summer has been better for training, after a day’s work it’s much better to train in better conditions rather than in mud, rain and wind. This has helped in recruitment.

“We’ve also hit facebook to get in touch with former players that had left for other clubs or had stopped playing Rugby League completely.

“The good thing is when we get players back and they’re talking about it on facebook other players see it and it’s had a knock-on effect in getting even more former players back to the open age team.

“We’ve also attracted a few lads from rugby union clubs in the area because of playing in the summer and this has all helped to run two teams.

“We have turned it around this year and gone from 26 players up to 56 signed on and playing in the entry league has helped as previously we would have been fined for not fulfilling a second team fixture which didn’t help.

“Next year we’re now looking to move up our second team from the entry league into a league division.”

As well as running two open age sides Latchford Albion also run junior sides at Under-10s, 11s, 12s, 13s, 14s, 15s and 17s.

Latchford Albion would like to thank sponsors Tom Farrell of Red Line Recruitment for their continued support, which has contributed the growth of the club for this exciting season of Summer Rugby and the future beyond.

For more information about Latchford Albion visit: http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/latchfordalbionunicorns/