Sat 28 Mar 2026
O Happy day!
O Glorious day!
What a tremendous day!
No dear reader, I am not talking about the great day in the Christian calendar a week from now but the overall experience at Legends Lane on Saturday…. Nearly 100 points scored in the game with rivals ONs, a fantastic lunch entertaining over 150 people, but more importantly over £2500 raised for Breast Cancer UK on a day when the Letchworth ladies looked their glamorous best and the first team forsook the black and amber for a stylish pink and white outfit in keeping with the day… all shirts raffled off to the ladies afterwards!
And so it more or less went all to script for Baz Basra’s men against a spirited young but outclassed ONs side. Bazra again complemented his side and Fraser Mc Gown received forward of the game and Charlie Parkhouse in the backs.
At 57-7 after 55 minutes it seemed a cricket score loomed, but two yellow cards to the home side and a rousing fightback secured a bonus point and ultimately league safety for the Saints feeder team.
For Legends it was a rampaging day for the backs built on forward set-piece dominance… four for Charlie Parkhouse and a hat trick for Kwaku enjoying his best game since injury. Great to see Will Titherington back from injury and notching two scores towards the end of the game. Josh Sharp orchestrated the game as ever as he had also orchestrated the off-field charity day and much thanks too to Ian Parkhouse and Sophie who raised the raffle money off the pitch.
By three o’clock a massive crowd had gathered to watch what is always an entertaining running game between these two sides and they were not to be disappointed.
From the start Letchworth took control and after only four minutes were encamped on the ONs line. Several forward drives were rebuffed but the ball was kept far more securely than against Southend and once the ball was released Sharp popped a short pass to Parkhouse who went over for his first. A few more chances came to nowt till out of nothing Parkhouse put on the afterburners to score number two.
It was then Kwaku who had been putting himself about much to ONs’ concern who broke free and scattered four defenders before scoring the third on twenty minutes.
At this stage there was a minor rally by ONs and centre Liggins went in under the posts and fly half Lodder added the conversion.
Normal service was resumed as forward driving again gave Parkhouse room to score his third and make it 28-7 at half time.
The third quarter was a purple patch for Legends and one of woe for ONs… in that period alone there were several contenders for try of the season… available on the drone footage on YouTube should you wish to view.
As ONs tried to move the ball Max Trimble intercepted and went fifty metres to score. From the restart Luke Mongston gathered and barrelled through to feed Parkhouse. Kwaku then knocked defenders aside and scored two in quick succession before Titherington took a hand to make it 57-7 and ONs reeling.
However on their first proper incursion to the Letchworth 22 indiscipline cost the home side two yellow cards in quick succession as Tom Aviss and Kyle Hughes were sent to the naughty step.
In the intervening ten minutes ONs grabbed nineteen points with two tries from centre Bull, one from second row Heslop and two conversions from Lodder. The game was fizzling out as ONs added another but Legends had the last say with maybe the try of the game.
The ball was kicked ahead by ONs and Josh Sharp found himself deep in his red zone on his own with several bearing down on him. Unfazed the Letchworth skipper delicately chipped over and caught it beating two before feeding Josh Parkhouse who again beat defenders before putting Titherington in for a great score. Unlike their opponents last season there was no crowing in victory but the crowd saluted both teams on a great game and a great day for North Herts’ leading club. After the Easter break the final league game against Tring Rugby Club away before entertaining them two weeks later (April 25th) at Legends Lane… there will of course be a playoff lunch beforehand and all diners are advised to phone Les Wilsher on 07827373937!
Team from 1: Robinson, Hughes T, Turner, Green, Jones, Mongston, Mc Gown, Lewis, Aviss, Sharp, Parkhouse J, Parkhouse C, Trimble, Kwaku Asiedu, Gibbs, Hughes T, Titherington, Marume
Edit: Apologies from Brian, Kwaku got 2 and Josh P got one... having watched drone footage!
