Sat 20 Sep 2025
Legends crush Hertford as Parkhouse brothers shine!
Funny old game Rugby!
For long periods of the first half Hertford held sway with possession and territory in the Letchworth red zone. Yet despite several clear cut chances they came away empty handed. Compared to last weeks capitulation at Scottow where over fifty points were shipped the Legends defence was immense and went a long way to winning this game against their oldest county rivals! Not only that it was a record win points wise in the ninety year old battle between the two clubs.
The start was almost a carbon copy of last week with full back Charlie Parkhouse dotting down for an early unconverted score. Unfortunately a Hertford man sustained a severe injury and was taken from the field. Indeed it was clear that the visitors missed stalwarts Kyle Lemon and Josh Rudling in the back division. However for the next fifteen minutes they pressurised the Letchworth line and were only denied by great defence. At last man of the match Josh Parkhouse found some space and sliced through the defence before offloading to Arun Johal to score a fine try converted by skipper Josh Sharp. Back came Hertford but to no avail and then a delicate chip from Sharp found flying flanker Frazer Mc Gown at full pace to go over for his third try in as many matches.
In the last few minutes of the first half Hertford broke out and only a fine tackle from Arun Johal denied them a score. At 19/0 Legends could be well satisfied with how the game had gone thus far but the next twenty minutes were to be the icing on the cake as the Parkhouse show got underway.
The Parkhouse family have been synonymous with Letchworth for over seventy years. First generation Noel and Andy followed by uncle Steve and proud Dad Ian have all worn the Black and Amber but never in the clubs history have two hat tricks been scored by two brothers in the same match…. A great day indeed for the family! However in Josh’s case his man of the match award did not just come from his attacking prowess but his ferocious chasing of kick offs to knock down men nearly twice his size! Initially it was a good break by Tom Fawssett who put Arun Johal through for his second try. Then from the kick off new scrum half Aviss and Mongston put the brothers through as Josh fed Charlie to score. Hertford replied with a good score before Josh Parkhouse scored his first from close range after a dominant forward display from Jones, Walker and Tom Lewis …as one spectator put it. Men against boys!
Josh Parkhouse bagged the next two again fed by Aviss as a Hertford player was carded and Legends were out of sight. As the score mounted to over fifty points it was Charlie who went over for his third to make it 59/5.
In fairness to Hertford they never gave up but two late tries were scant reward which saw them with no bonus point for their efforts. For Letchworth it capped a good first month as they lie fourth in the table and showed that they had learnt lessons from North Walsham the week before. Now a week off before Sudbury come a calling at the beginning of October!
