Sat 4 Nov 2023
The sun was out the sky was blue, but I was cold I don’t know about you! The trip up the road to play Royston 2s took a lot of work in the week as the coaches set about setting up the 3s for a game to be played with the Wanderers spirit.
With the bright sun in our eyes, Tom Smith was able to produce a kickoff take that looked very special. However 2 mins later and it’s a Royston pen they kick for touch win lineout catch and drive to get the first try Royston converted 7-0 Royston. That was probably the wake up the team needed cries Timber from the touchline and it really started to look like Letch had woken up and were taking control. The number of backs available meant players needed to adapt all round and as Lewis found touch from a pen a slightly miss thrown lineout meant someone needed to claim and James Dupey took it, when he did James Dupey goes through a few wins a pen this was taken quickly by Fred Rooney who managed to break through tackles and Lewis Ryall’s boot converts 7-7. But now Letchworth were very awake.
Royston's restart was secured well and a break from the back sees Jeff Rice offload to Jude who passes to Fred Rooney to score. Lewis converted and it’s 14-7. But Royston got hold of the restart and got a maul going. But Smith has his hands on the ball and with Luke Paddy and Conner pushing the great steal is complete. The ref thinks otherwise and penalised Smith as the man was on the floor. From the touchline, one must assume it was their studs laces or something was on the floor. Because the rest of them was very upright. Great D from this pen sees Letch win a lineout as Royston winger and the ball go into touch following great work by Aaron Vince, Jeff Rice and Rooney. The lineout was knocked on which meant it was scrum time. With Luke, Conner and James Dupey providing the front row and Shane and Paddy in the engine room the scrum dominance was strong for 80 mins. This one saw Letch win a pen against the head. unfortunately with no 10 Paddy was left to kick but he did almost make the half way from our 22. Quick tap and go from Conner sees him tackled within 10 but this is missed and an Intercept after sees try eventually after a couple of good tackles and breakdowns meaning Royston have the last score before HT (con missed) 14-12 to Letch at half time.
The start to the second half was the same as first half Royston score first with the Letch guys seemingly waiting to get going. 17-14 Royston lead The injury tolls we’re starting now with Tom Smith on his first game back after leg op replaced at half time by the returning Ben Swanton. Some great back play saw the crowd chant Schoe, this wasn’t the Scottish prop this was a great carry by Jude and with Joe Hanchett and Ben Merrison securing the balls at rucks, which were very interestingly refereed all game, Conner Turner pick and goes over the try line with great footwork or pure crash, you decide, to restore the lead. 21-17 Wing break sees overlap and try under posts which means they score the conversion 24- 21 Royston.
The injuries were starting to make their impact now with Jeff Rice injured hearing a pop, Paddy Allen having a smudge on his lipstick (cause noone shouted man on) there was time for a reshuffle. Wonky moving from 10 to 15 could make him close to being the person who has occupied the most positions in forwards and backs. Dan Prowse coming on at wing and Marc D’Onofrio moving his great tackling work to the centres. Great breakdown work by some of the great backrowers playing in whichever position sees us get the ball. Great quick ball from Ryall feeds Wonky who gets some great phase play going that sees Rooney dot down for his 3rd Letch 4th. Ryall misses the conversion 26-24 Letchworth, Royston's players were managing the referee well here and with their 1st team not having a fixture some of the stronger players in the Royston team were starting to really get the ball moving quickly and the team spread well. Dan Prowse missed a tackle but Rooney didn’t and Dan strong at Ruck seals pen for Letchworth.
The legs were starting to struggle a bit now with many players playing their first game for a long time, all told by the coaching team they would prob only get a half. But Letchworth still led by two and a Dan Prowse intercept got the crowd very excited (Farquhar almost dropped his stick, don’t worry he was still talking lots) but the nearly 1 sec hold on to the ball on the floor saw the crowd disappointed as the ref gives pen. Even Sam Moat suggested this was harsh, with Jude saying after it was def less than a second and the guy was off his feet, but I couldn’t keep up to know. The game moves to the middle of the park and a Letch pen sees a tap and go with a few tackles nearly a whole 5 meters back but at the next offload a Royston player is handed off and the ref says this was high so a pen to Royston. Their Hooker goes for the tap and go and some great tackles couldn’t stop a last gasp try and conversion which sees Royston win by 3.
Convinced that walking over to the huddle at the end this reporter would need to get the **** out. Coach Calver and the team highlighted the many great positives - Returns for Swanton, Smith, Merrison and Dupey. Playing Schoeman, Rooney, Rae out of position etc. The team spirit and camaraderie at the end really did make this reporter proud even if the performance of the Referee and some of the stand-out Royston players did leave me pondering how much moaning I would be able to fit into one match report!
