Sat 7 Sep 2024, 15:00
As the Shelford kickoff swirled in the early September air Legends stared into the eye of the tiger as the kick was fumbled on the 22 and after several recycles a penalty was awarded to the leaders to give them an early 0/3 lead. However, the home side soon gathered their composure as a great break from Will Titherington saw him to the line and his pass enabled Charlie Parkhouse to cross for the first score of the season converted by the ever reliable Josh Sharp.
However the first half was to belong to the visitors with two fine tries which resulted from Letchworth errors in possession. It was as if the home side were trying too hard at this stage. At 7/18 the visitors seemed in control but as so often in recent seasons Legends were far from down and out. Letchworth had been secure in the lineout mainly through class second row Llewelyn Jones but this time it was number eight Tom Lewis who took the ball and barrelled through to feed Titherington for a seven pointer under the posts on the stroke of half time.
An early Shelford penalty took it to 14/21 but the large and vociferous crowd could see that the tide was turning in the home sides favour .Sharp kicked a penalty into the corner and Lewis again drove on from the lineout. This time it was long term legend Rambo Hughes who drove over to celebrate his Birthday with the first of two tries and Sharps superb conversion tied the scores.
Minutes later a great break from Titherington saw a high tackle upend him but the referee allowed play to continue as the ball was quickly recycled through Streets and then then a great flip on by Charlie Parkhouse to flying winger Kaz Henderson who scored in the corner which was again converted by the Letchworth fly half. His opposite winger the powerful Nana Kwaku making his league debut did not get much chance to shine as final passes to him proved elusive!
However the home forwards were now in control and it was Llewelyn Jones who took the ball and was carried over for the decisive score to make it 33/21. This time the kick drifted wide despite the offered reward of a pint for three touch line conversions from the President . Shelford launched waves of attacks to get back into the contest but were all snuffed out by the home sides defence . However in the last minute a somewhat dubious lineout was awarded to Letchworth. Again the forwards drove for the line and it was Rambo Hughes who dotted down with four Shelford forwards clinging on to him.
It had been a fine final thirty minutes to make up for first half errors and rustiness but whilst congratulating his charges and awarding man of the match to Kaz Henderson, Baz Basra left them in no doubt that although Shelford proved a real challenge given other results in the league stiffer tasks will be in store as the season unfolds. Meanwhile it will be a short trip down the road to Haroenden next week as the Legends bandwagon hopefully gains momentum.
Team from 1: Robinson, Hughes T, Wilkinson, Wilcock, Jones, Mongston, Fitts (c), Lewis, Howman, Sharp, Kwaku, Titherington, Streets, Henderson, Parkhouse
Replacements: Hughes K, Barrett, Gibbs
