Sat 25 Apr 2026
Thanks to groundsman Digger Gardiner’s swincan efforts in transforming a wizen surface to one that would take a stud, this game was able to go ahead and what a titanic struggle it turned out to be. Although Legends led all the way, they could not completely shake off a terrier-like Tring side who clung on to the game with every sinew and were only a score behind at the death.
However, it must be said that Letchworth deserved their win in this first playoff, which now sees them paired with Tonbridge at Legends Lane next week. They had just that little bit more power in the forwards and incision in the backs and their two key players, Llewelyn Jones in the forwards and Josh Sharp in the backs, both had exceptional games. Josh Walker also kept his engine running for the full eighty and Charlie “the can opener” Parkhouse looked dangerous whenever he had space. Nanu Kwaku also looked busy looking for work and it was great to see Brendan Marume’s dancing feet back on Legends Lane turf.
It was the Letchworth backs who were first to strike after only five minutes; a great move ended with open side flanker Liam Fitts go over near the posts with Sharp adding the extras.
Tring were not long in responding through winger O Gorman, converted by Green the scrum half.
A fine field by Luke Mongston set the ball back to Sharp, whose delicate grubber found the corner for a 50:22 and from the lineout Josh Walker went over for a close range try from this fine and often unsung player. Sharp again converted. Minutes later Charlie Parkhouse set Kwaku free but the referee stopped a certain try due to a marginally forward pass. Then two clumsy rather than malicious tackles by Legends led to impressive centre Joseph Brown getting a yellow and, as two weeks ago, Tring profited by scoring again. However another fine run by Kwaku brought a penalty which Sharp slotted and a great flat pass minutes later by the Letchworth captain put Charlie Parkhouse through for the try of the first half and Letchworth went ahead 24-12. Just before the break Tring pulled another score back with a fine individual try by fullback Hartman. The 24-19 score was a fair reflection of the first forty’s play.
Legends had the best of the ten minutes after the break and the backs were a joy to watch as Joseph Brown swept through the centre and fed his captain to add another seven points. Minutes later Sharp’s well balanced grubber just eluded flying winger Josh Parkhouse in the corner. Tring were well aware of the damage the younger Parkhouse could do and shadowed him all afternoon. Then a great drive from Llewelyn Jones led to a five metre scrum and as Letchworth barrelled over Conor Turner touched down for 36-19.
So it looked all over but was it? As Tring’s forward of the match Ed Harrison cruised through to make it 36-26. Legends had several penalties to extend the lead but Sharp opted for the corner and, to the large crowd’s frustration, failed to score. However Tring broke out and full back Beeny made it 36-31. Legends kept their cool and replacement scrum half Chris Gibbs danced through and fed Rambo Hughes, who had Tom Lewis playing one of his last games for the club on his shoulder, to go over 41-31. Surely that was it but in the dying minutes Tring substitute Hearn skipped in for a final try but in his haste Green scuffed the ball in front of the posts. With the next play Sharp put the ball into touch… and indeed it was game over for the West Herts side while Letchworth march into next week’s playoff. There is a lunch before next week’s game; all diners please ring Les Wilsher on 07827 373937.
