Sat 20 Dec 2025
Surely it is the mark of a good side that even when they are playing badly and against over 500 hostile voices, as well as a relegation bound side fighting for their lives, they still find a way to win ugly! Also, they have an intelligent captain who can steer them to victory out of adversity in leader Josh Sharp. Such were the words of Baz Basra, head coach of Letchworth and late of Hertford, in awarding his skipper the man of the match award. In the long history of the two clubs this will go down as another pulsatingly close encounter, with unusually the Garden City being the red hot favourites and Hertford the underdogs.
Throughout the first half, the visitors were cruising to a seemingly easy victory. The back row triumvirate of Fitts, McGown and Luke Mongston, winning his 200th cap for the club, provided good ball for the backs, who in turn made big incursions to the Hertford defence. Josh Parkhouse came close before, after several phases, Chris Gibbs skipped through and Sharp added the extras. Shortly afterwards a blindside move saw Aviss put Tom Fawsett over and again Sharp converted. On a rare incursion to the visitors red zone skipper Stefan Jones went over for a score. However, the remainder of the half was really all Letchworth as, after several drives, they went over for a penalty try and Hertfords captain received a yellow card in attempting to pull down the advancing maul.
So at 21/5 down at half time the crowd were fairly mute and things were going in accordance to the form book.
However, as dusk came down and the teams emerged for the second half, a shift in momentum occurred largely inspired by veteran Hertford forward Alex Banna, who fought for the ball like a man possessed and inspired team mates and home supporters alike. Breaking through the centre they went over for a try and then a kick ahead saw a mess up on the Letchworth line and suddenly it was 17/21. Then, with the crowd baying for blood and star winger Kwaku in the bin, it was Banna who again broke through to give the home side the lead 24/21.
In fairness the travelling faithful never lost faith in their team and sure enough a great penalty kick to the corner by Sharp set up a driving mall and pack leader Llewelyn Jones rumbled over to regain the lead at 26/24 as Sharps conversion hit the post. But by now Letchworth had regained the initiative and were unlucky when Josh Parkhouse was deemed to have been bundled into touch when he seemed to have grounded in the corner. As the home crowd succumbed to reality a final penalty from Sharp sealed the victory at 29/24. Nevertheless, with two bonus points, Hertford can take some crumbs of comfort from this game and certainly will be beating sides in the second half of the season.
Meanwhile, legends keep up the chase on leaders Colchester and we can no doubt look forward to an exciting second half of the season but hopefully with better performances than they showed at Hoe Lane on Saturday.
Meanwhile the result of the day was pulled off by the 1924s beating league leaders Royston by a single point 30/29 with the last move of the game…… a Merry Christmas indeed for the second string!
Seasons greetings all!
