Sat 9 Nov 2024
There have been three matches between these two competitive sides and all have been thoroughly entertaining with Legends coming top on both occasions last season.
In the home game this time last year Legends shaved it by three points. This year it was the visitors who triumphed by the same margin and their somewhat un rugby like whooping at the end showed how much it meant to them. However on the day their victory was well merited with their fullback Joseph Heslop deservedly man of the match.
The opening action had Letchworth defending as desperately as last week against Tring. Then Letchworth pulled off the great escape but ran out of time and pitch as the ball and Max Trimble were bundled out of play ant the death and the referee ended what was a disappointing afternoon for the Letchworth crowd.
With ONS elusive full-back Joseph Heslop's excellent counter running and kicking he set up what was a magnificent ONS performance. ONS took five points and closed the gap on Letchworth in second place who took two, whilst Oundle extended their lead at the top taking five from their match at Sudbury.
From kick-off Letchworth conceded a penalty which was followed by five more until Heslop took the points. Legends continued to turn over ball either through knocking on, penalties or by being stripped. Parkhouse was yellow carded, several more penalties led to a line-out maul try, Heslop converting.
Parkhouse returned the forwards rumbled and Lewis scored from short range. ONS Joel Grayson picked up a loose Asiedu pass and out sprinted the cover. Asiedu made up for his earlier error and crashed over in the corner ten minutes later.So far it was anyone’s game.
The second half was much of the same, disjointed by errors and penalties. Legends put together several phases from an inevitable penalty line out, Sharp freeing Trimble who ran into space giving Asiedu a run in. Untidy line-out work allowed ONS to gather, space opened and Lochlan Brown took full advantage under the posts.
Josh Walker returned from his ten minutes only for Sharp to take yellow for an unfortunate use of the boot. Legends rumbled on though and scored from a line-out maul. Somehow ONS were awarded a kick-off penalty after some sculduggery after Legends had scored and Heslop elected to take a shot. This one fell short but a second long range effort found goal.
ONS took a quick line-out caught Letchworth napping and Callum Burns trotted in. Letchworth replied from a quick tap, Gibbs found Trimble who made enough ground for Josh Walker to make the line. An excellent kick by Sharp and it was all to play for
At 34 to 37 Letchworth pressed for the winning score, Trimble thwarted as he lost control in the tackle and the ball dribbled into touch.
In the after match huddle Baz Basra commended the pack for their last quarters performance but all acknowledged that too many penalties and turnover errors had cost them the match. Now it was serious heads on time to take on improving rivals Hertford at Hoe Lane next Saturday.
