Sat 14 Dec 2024
Had Harpenden not butchered four clear opportunities and knocked on at five further promising moves Legends would have struggled to force a losing bonus point.
However, Letchworth's start was excellent. The driving rucking game with Streets, Jones and Peasnall setting up a first five minute try. Backs and forwards combined to work their way up the field, Harpenden conceded a penalty to hold the advance. Once in the corner after two lineouts, two penalties the attack was ended by some excellent defence. The following Harpenden scrum was disrupted, a driving forward was stripped of the ball. Howman gathered and shipped, Sharp fed Asiedu who off-loaded to number eight Tom Lewis for the initial score.
After the restart a poor clearance gave Harpenden the chance to attack, Legends defended and broke only to concede a penalty. Inaccuracy at the line out relieved the pressure. From a scrum a break was ended by Asiedu who gathered and ran powerfully, for Sharp to clear. Off the field the relentless bawling from the Harpenden bench did nothing for the players or the atmosphere. As the game progressed it became a major distraction and spoiled an afternoon's sport for many. At one point a Harpenden coach entered the field of play gesticulating at the referee to award a card.
Despite Letchworth being the more competent side, Harpenden broke through center Lucas Bruzas who found a gap and gathered pace up the middle, Asiedu covered. From the scrum Harpenden ran, Asiedu tackled, Johal cleared and both chased. Johal’s tackle and Asiedu’s jackal won the penalty. From this fine work Letchworth scored again.
Only loose handling held Legends from extending their dominant lead. Once on the ball they broke the tackle and gain lines and also began to drive Harpenden off the ball at scrums.
Full back Simcott made a fine break taking Harpenden to a five meter lineout, then a scrum, then a penalty but Legends held them out, Tim Hughes took a yellow. From another penalty and more frantic bawling from the Harpenden bench Harpenden scored.
The referee failed to play advantage on several occasions and seemed nervous to let the game flow. Toward half time the bawling became unrelenting. Clubs should consider the ‘Speak Up’ policy to refer coaches who create such an antagonistic and uncomfortable experience for the spectators around them.
What could have been an entertaining game was punctuated by the whistle, the ball in play for no more then a few seconds per phase. However, Kwaku Asiedu only needed a few seconds; from a scrum Sharp moved the ball, Johal found Asiedu, he handed off Harpenden winger Wilkinson, bumped off center Cutler and ran over full back Simcott to score from 50 meters.
Letchworth continued to attack and were rewarded with a push over try from a penalty lineout this time it was the ever popular Kyle Rambo Hughes who grounded the ball.
From a scrum at half way, Harpenden moved the ball, Simcott joined the line and a missed tackle allowed him to score against the run of play.
Letchworth, dominating ball and territory looked certain to score only to have Wilcock carded under the posts. Letchworth were unable to take advantage of their possession and territory, turn overs stifling their obvious superiority. Harpenden worked their way up the field and from a scrum Simcott joined the line fed Wilkinson who rounded Gibbs to score.
The bawling was now unacceptably out of control, even coaching the referee, every error cheered. At another attack Asiedu knocked on but from the scrum Bruzas did the same. This time the Letchworth pack earned a penalty. The lineout drive produced the final score of the game the forwards driving over from short range to take the winning bonus with the powerful Llewelyn Jones touching down and unfortunately Harpenden like the poor dog got nothing! Maybe it was justice served for the appalling behaviour of their senior coach and his acolytes.
