Sat 26 Oct 2024
A Few Dollars More
Baz Basra congratulated his team after this hard-fought encounter on Saturday and stated they all deserved a well-earned break next weekend, to which a string of battered, fatigued, and relieved bodies all agreed. Though they had not been at the top of their game, Letchworth’s sheer determination and doggedness won through. Several will be at the All Blacks match next weekend, and it must be hoped that they will be as well entertained as the crowd at Legends Lane was by them on Saturday.
Christopher Gibbs is at the top of his game and is excelling at this level. A faultless display of fielding kicks, elusive counter running, and so much of the game is built upon big men thudding their way into double tackles. Gibbs stepped, turned, and accelerated, beating backs and forwards alike, often making 30 and 40 meters.
He tackles too, as did the team who, for twenty-five minutes, were blasted by Tring, who came out to sweep Letchworth away, driving, running, finding the edge, and trucking up the middle. They must have been listening to Eddie Jones’ All Blacks v Cherries pre-match burble (Force = Mass x Acceleration) or some apple muncher from Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire, in the seventeenth century? Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica (Isaac Newton 1687). Maybe a triple dose of Red Bull and Pecan Pie. Wherever they got it, the tactic had Legends on their heels.
However, it’s one thing to be camped on the 5m line and another to score. Letchworth defended, tackled hard, broke out, lost the lineout, and defended again. Eventually, Ben Criddle stepped back and took the drop goal. This at least enabled Letchworth to restart. With some possession, they threatened but were matched in defense by Tring, and it wasn’t until Arun Johal picked up a loose ball, ran, dodged, and powered upfield that Tring looked panicked. Letchworth put phases together, and Gurere was set off down the wing, but a well-timed tackle ended the move.
Legends started to press. Tring’s scramble defense was awarded a scrum after a terrible no-arms tackle had brought a promising Legends breakout to an end when Streets understandably knocked on. Letchworth started to get into the game just as Tring found the edge and scored. 0-8 at halftime.
Letchworth had to start well. Their superior driving game began to tell, but Tring continued to win at the breakdown. Legends, on the other hand, squeezed at the scrum and flew at the lineout. Two phases gave Parkhouse the space to elude the cover and sprint in from the Tring 10m line. 5-8.
A well-struck penalty settled Tring’s nerves. 5-11.
Fitts stole an attacking lineout, Lewis thumped up the middle, and Howman set up a scrum penalty, which Sharp put in the corner. The lineout maul took them to the 5m, and from the scrum, Howman took his opportunity down the blind side. 10-11.
The Tring pack visibly tired and took several injury rests, which slowed and disrupted Letchworth’s continuity. Gibbs took a clearance and beat the hapless Tring forwards, making a full 50m. Ominous clouds gathered for Tring.
Too many times, a scrum going forward is penalized for not driving straight, and defenses are able to clear, but despite this, Legends began to look like winners. After moving the ball all afternoon, Sharp cut back in, dropped his shoulder, and took several Tring players over the line. 17-11.
Walker, Turner, and Henderson had joined the fray. Letchworth continued to defend, forcing Tring sideways. They rarely crossed the gain line, and despite every effort, were held in midfield.
At 80 minutes, Sharp called to Howman at a scrum and pumped the ball into touch. Full-time 17-11.
Without a doubt, this was Legend’s hardest encounter. Tring is a lively, skillful side, but their forwards lack punch. It was a much-relieved Letchworth crowd that cheered them from the pitch.
Letchworth is the premier club in North Herts, and it is free to watch them at Legends Lane, situated behind the Letchworth Leisure Centre. Legends have won 6 from 6. Come and enjoy a thrilling afternoon of live sport.
Team from 1: Robinson, Hughes T, Hughes K, Wilcock, Jones, Mongston, Fitts, Lewis, Howman, Sharp, Gurure, Streets, Parkhouse, Johal, Gibbs
Replacements: Turner, Walker, Henderson
