Sat 12 Oct 2024
The Good Bad and the Ugly
Richard Streets continues to improve. Three seasons ago he looked jaded, playing with injury and perhaps thinking of retirement. He is rejuvenated, fitter, faster more powerful, has three Man of the Match Awards and a Chopper of the Week. His burst through the middle mid second half busting tackles, leaving players prostrate and scoring under the posts was superb.
Richard Stokes was clearly punched at a scrum and showed his athleticism chasing his retreating opponent for 10 meters to land a swinging over-cut to the jaw. Back in the day a stern talking to, shake of hands and play on. These days instant red card. Connor Turner replaced the still fuming Stokes who massaged his hand as he left the field. The scrum continued to outplay Sudbury with Streets filling in at flanker.
Sudbury lost several players to injury in what was a thumping exchange, Street's contribution left Sudbury no. 11 Gareth Richard Pugh semi conscious with a shoulder injury, Pugh had exchanged blows with our own Josh Sharp in an ugly and unprovoked attack as Sharp attempted a charge down. The referee missed this encounter as well as the punch on Stokes but otherwise had a good game.
Henry Robinson opened his account, Mongston having previously driven on passed long to Parkhouse, who beating three players, provided quick ball for Howman and Sharp under pressure to set Robinson on his way eluding three more tackles he found the line. Sharp converting. 7 v 0
Sudbury constantly under pressure kicked to clear, Robinson collected only thwarted by a forward pass to Trimble who looked explosive on the wing. Robinson later took a high ball and crashed into Sudbury centre Austin Beckett for whom the referee had to stop the game as he lay squirming.
The scrum resulted in a free kick which Sharp tapped and the forwards and backs combined to drive up field, off-loading and finding Sharp who passed wide to Robinson, onto Trimble who out sprinted the cover to score under the posts. 14 v 0
Despite plenty of possession and the occasional break Sudbury rarely crossed the gain line whereas Letchworth on the ball made ground put the defence on the back foot and created space. Legends started to put together their driving running game, a move started in their own 22 created space for Trimble in from his wing to elude several players to score. Sharp converting 21 v 0
Sudbury needed to step up or be humiliated.
The second half did see something of a revival. Stokes saw red, Tommy Wee was sacrificed for prop Turner and whilst Letchworth settled Sudbury put together a series of phases producing space for wing Shaun Smith to dot down. 21 v 5
Time for Streets to step up and through, busting two tackles and running in from half way. 28 v 5
Against the flow, Sudbury no 8 Cowling picked, fed centre Sumner who made 30m and passed to wing Beckett to dive under the posts. 28 v 12
Gibbs replaced Howman and Allen joined on the wing. Jones, Oscar Robinson, Barrett and Lewis drove on forcing errors. Several driving attacks were repelled but Sudbury were unable to clear. Sharp barged through two tacklers from a penalty line out maul after
Gibbs was denied darting through by a lack of advantage played. 35 v 12
It was left to the mercurial Parkhouse to finish the final move, Robinson joined the line, evaded one found Parkhouse who evaded two, Jake Allen rounded his opposite number and passed inside to Parkhouse who cantered in from 20m.
It was a fine all round performance Sudbury were out played in all areas. The scrum was solid and the pack made ground against a sturdy defence but multiple phases created space which the backs exploited, six tries from driving multi ruck open play.
Letchworth top the table on 25pts with Oundle on their tail on 24. Henry Robinson is a quarter yard away from breaking loose. Max Trimble has made his debut with two tries. Legends are on a roll.
Parkhouse is at home in the centre and Streets excels as he runs, tackles, rucks and scores. Sharp is managing the game with aplomb, Jones, Lewis and Wilcock make ground, Fitts and Mongston are everywhere. The front row provide a bedrock upon which the team thrive. With players still to recover from injury this side has the talent in depth to remain competitive throughout the season.
Elsewhere Oundle plucked Harpenden 68 v 0 who are now firmly rooted to the bottom just above Amersham & Chiltern who lost to Hertford 40 v 15. North Walsham beat Bedford Athletic 35 v 24. Shelford fell to Old Northamptonians 20 v 13 who are now 4th behind Huel Tring.
Of the top four only Old Northamptonians and Oundle have met, Oundle winning 5 v 26. Letchworth and Oundle do not play until 7th December but will take on Huel Tring in a fortnight’s time at Legends’ Lane after what will be a tough encounter away to Southend Saxons. Saxons, who made a poor start losing three games in September have made something of a recovery beating Amersham & Chiltern and Bedford Athletic.
Letchworth won both very close encounters two seasons ago against Southend but are much improved since then and will travel with optimism and another five point win. Oundle will relish their trip to Bedford and their home match against Amersham & Chiltern.
Both top clubs will want maximum points before they meet in December.
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