Sat 6 Sep 2025
The club opened its memorial “ brick “ wall before kick off and then the first team under new skipper Josh Sharp opened their new campaign with a bonus point win against Herts rivals Tring who opened well but found themselves four tries to one down by half time.
Frazer McGown sealed the win for Legends after breaking free of the Huel (other nutritionally complete food products are available) Tring, making his first appearance in the black and amber. Like Tom Fawssett he took a while to make an impact but both show promise, Tom covered well but was not provided the opportunity to show his pace Neither made mistakes, both will settle and Tom, will look for work as confidence grows.
Josh Sharp ran his back line and apart from two handling errors they did not let him down. Johal moved the ball and made several half breaks, tackled with his usual ferocity and Parkhouse made several telling interventions having lost non of his speed or agility after a long term injury. He cut through the defence to gain Legends’ their bonus try.
Titherington stood tall, made his tackles and provided out and inside with timely accurate passes. Caleb ‘Rapido’ Reeves the third debutant was stifled by a lively Tring defence. Again he has talent and speed which Sharp will look to exploit.
Tring certainly had energy and retained possession for most of the first quarter but lacked execution in the final pass and too often failed to break the gain line. Their forwards worked hard individually but lacked cohesion leaving their backs on their heels. In the fifteenth minute Letchworth worked their way up field and nominated man of the match TimHughes opened the scoring.
The main threat came from full back Rory Hardman who got his reward in the last play of the match out pacing the cover to score. It gave them some consolation after starting in high gear and added to a converted score from a restart after Legends had crossed through Charlie Parkhouse (15"), Luke Mongston (26") and Frazer McGown (32").
They all benefitted from the hard work of Llewelyn Jones and Josh Walker who won their lineouts and scrums. Hughes, Robinson and Ben Wilkinson undid their counterparts in the front row and Robinson did his share of the grunt. Consequently, Legends were able to work themselves up field confident in retaining possession.
Sweeping multi phase play now characteristic of the Baz Basra approach began to take its toll. The backs through Arun Johal’s power and Parkinson’s agility made ground up the middle as McGown and Lewis cleared out. By half time Legends were beyond reach and despite a couple of handling errors were always in control. Discipline was good which afforded Tring little opportunity to consolidate territory but they scored well in the 40th minute through Max Allen.
Further tries from Sharp (48") and Jones (75") put Legends to the top of the table on points difference. By the last five Legends had worn themselves out winning. Fitness will be a major factor and players not making the match day 18 are well advised to play in the exciting Letchworth 1924.
Adam Green and Kyle Hughes added pace and power to the pack and stiffened the defence, Green making ground in attack too.
Elsewhere two sides managed away wins. Colchester put 35 on Shelford who replied with 13. Colchester will be the side to beat, having had a disappointing foray into National League 2 managing just three wins and a draw to finish 13th above Worthing on points difference. Old rivals and newly promoted Southend Saxons will have been delighted with their bonus point 24 v 29 win at Amersham&Chiltern. The bonus point puts them just above Hertford who picked up a try bonus point in their defeat at North Walsham 35 v 22.
Next week’s opponents North Walsham took the points against Legends 32 v 28 in a game that Letchworth contrived to lose with some uncharacteristic sloppy play. There was non of this against Tring, the handling was excellent as was discipline, the forwards swept up field and the backs utilised the space. Tom Lewis, Llewelyn Jones and Oscar Robinson all carried through the tackle. Mongston’s flamboyance sometimes undid his support but his tackling and work fielding kicks stifled Tring’s territorial ambitions. Josh Walker too was impressive and the front row ensured a steady flow of first phase possession, Tim Hughes was lively, more aggression from Ben Wilkinson would enhance his solid scrummaging and later his throwing in.
Josh Parkhouse added some exciting touches, breaking free down the right several times testing the scramble defence. Sharp scored, converted and punted well, just one ambitious penalty punt going dead. His management of the game is outstanding, his passing sublime. It was always when not if his backs would break through what was an enthusiastic defence. Letchworth are well worth their try bonus point and top of the table position after the first week.
A long haul to North Walsham and the opportunity to make good that defeat will be Sharp’s triumph if his squad can repeat this performance which leaves Tring propping up the table.
