Sat 11 Apr 2026
Any casual observer of this match being told it was at the fag end of the season, with the positions decided already and nothing riding on it, might well have been surprised at the intensity, skill and determination shown by both sides in an epic contest which was quite reminiscent, on a smaller scale, of the game between Saints and Bath which ended in a narrow victory for the West Country side. The fact that this game ended in a draw was a fair reflection on both sides, who will now grind out the first playoff in two weeks at Legends Lane. That future game has also the potential to be a humdinger.
Legends had the elements in the first half… a strong wind and the Tring slope, and Sharp slotted an early penalty to steady nerves. However, minutes later the home side cut through in the centre for a fine try aided by weak tackling. Back came Letchworth with a series of drives on the Tring line and Llewelyn Jones plunged over for the visitors. Then a great breakout from Max Trimble fed big winger Nanu Kwaku, having one of his best games this season.
He supplied Will Titherington who scored, with Sharp adding a great conversion to make it 7-17. However, encouraged by a large, vibrant crowd, the home side rallied and two tries saw them narrowly ahead by 19-17. However, speedy winger Josh Parkhouse produced a magnificent mazy run to beat three players and Legends had regained the lead with another Sharp conversion. Tring tied the game with a try in the corner before the referee took a hand and carded Tom Lewis and Luke Mongston within a minute for high tackles. Even the crowd thought the second was harsh!
Tring used this time well, scoring another just before the break and, using the elements and a two-man advantage, scored another two tries after half time that put them nearly out of sight at 43-24.
But as Baz Basra said in the post-match huddle, these lads will scrap to the end as they have done over the past four seasons and never give up till the last whistle.
Once restored to fifteen, the balance of the game began to change and after some good play it was talisman Josh Sharp who went over and converted against the wind. Then Charlie Parkhouse and Will Titherington nearly got a second but the Letchworth centre was held on the line. Moments later veteran prop Kyle Rambo Hughes had scored and another great conversion from Sharp meant Legends were only five behind and the home side were twitching!
Then it was that man Josh Parkhouse who broke out from deep with a mesmeric run to score out wide and tie things up! This time Sharp could not work the oracle with his kick.
Now it was Tring’s turn to suffer with yellows and they also missed a kickable penalty as the match wound down. A late Letchworth surge was kept out and that was it.
Game on in two weeks… let’s see what happens in chapter two!!
Team: Hughes K, Hughes T, Turner, Jones, Green, McGown, Mongston, Lewis, Aviss, Sharp, Assiedu, Titherington, Parkhouse C, Parkhouse J, Trimble, Fitts, Fawsett, Gibbs
