Sat 13 Sep 2025, 15:00
So welcome to the real world of tier 5 rugby! Both teams came together after substantial wins in their first game of the season and for 60 minutes the game swung backwards and forwards and could have gone either way with both sides tied at 31 all. However, it was the Norfolk boys who ploughed forward for the last quarter and sealed a memorable win as it’s a long time since the legends shipped over a half century of points.
Whilst Walsham deserved their win, Letchworth will probably regret some sloppy defence and also the penalty reversal that played a big part in sinking their hopes towards the end of the game.
The opening salvos belonged to Letchworth after a great shove in the scrum and Tom Lewis fed Sharp who put a great pass into Charlie Parkhouse who burst through to score a great opener. Legends had further chances to increase their score at this stage but it was Walsham who dominated the scoreboard with three tries and a penalty. Key players were full back Ross Magnus whose kicking was near faultless, skipper Ewan Kingdon and fellow centre Archie Bryan. Moreover after a shaky start the home side scrum achieved parity and then dominance. How the visitors must have missed pack leader Llewelyn Jones at this stage.
At 24/5 and a baying home support with contralto sounds from the ladies day lunch Legends could have folded at this stage but it says much for their spirit that they doggedly held on till half-time and then scored a fine try after several phases of play as second row Adam Green plunged over the line for a score which Sharp converted to make it 24/12 at the break.
Whatever head coach Baz Basra said at half time must have had an effect as within ten minutes Letchworth were level. Firstly, a deaf chip from Sharp found Arun Johal to dive over for a score straight out of the Finn Russell handbook and then Charlie Parkhouse raced in for his second try.
As the skies darkened overhead Letchworth attacked again but unfortunately Josh Walker was robbed in midfield by Kingdon who scored a fine individual try which was converted by the full back. Almost immediately Letchworth were down at the Vikings end and a grubber eluded the Walsham defence but not Josh Parkhouse who dotted the ball down. Sharps conversion from wide out levelled it again as the game entered the last quarter. It was all up for grabs!
Unfortunately, it was Walsham who grabbed it. A fine series of driving plays finally led to overlap far out wide and again the try was converted by Ross Magnus to make it a seven point game.
However, the turning point of the match could have been a few minutes later when Letchworth were awarded a penalty to give them a good attacking position and then some gobbling off caused this to be reversed and Magnus stepped up to slot another three pointer. As the visitors wilted Walsham ran in another to put it beyond doubt. A late consolation try by Frazer Mc gown making it 48/38 meant a losing bonus point could be a possibility but Letchworth messed up the restart and then a yellow card to Mongston meant Magnus could score a final penalty to nudge the score past fifty and ultimately a bad day at the office for Legends.
Hertford await next week in a crunch game that will have a big bearing in the early phase of this season. Heads up! it’s there for the taking in a massive game at Legends lane 3pm next Saturday.
