Sat 2 May 2026
There will be no Letchworth boats bumping on the river down at Henley next weekend. The play-off dream ended in a pulsating game, with Letchworth leading for long periods, but as they have proved in recent weeks the Tunbridge Wells side are a resilient bunch and so the last 15 belonged to them and ultimately gave them victory to enable them to play national two side Henley Hawkes next week for a place in that league.
In the post match huddle attended by leading sponsor Spencer Brown of Goldstar, Baz Basra spoke passionately to his side and what they had achieved this year. A fantastic campaign with only four league defeats, finishing second, well clear of local rivals Tring who they also overcame in the first play-off.
As he said they could not really have done more and the whole club were proud of them. He singled out Tom Lewis for his Herculean efforts in taking his family to the Lake District the night before only to return and play in the Black and Amber for maybe one last time on Saturday. Also Ex Skipper Liam Fitts who is also to retire after over a decade of fine service to the club.
He pinpointed as man of the match the Evergreen Chris Gibbs who can play in almost any position in the backs. Not only did he score a fine try but his defence was also immense. So although the season ended in one last defeat there was more than a sense of achievement in the vibrant post match atmosphere shared by all the large crowd who had supported over the last few weeks.
With regards to the match it swung from side to side. Wells took an early lead with a drive over…. a tactic so well deployed by Letchworth throughout the season. Josh Sharp slotted a penalty to steady nerves and dangerman Charlie Parkhouse nearly ghosted through before fellow centre Arun Johal made a fine break ending with burly winger Kwaku bowling down the wing to score. Sharp’s conversion made it 10-5 before the skipper was carded for illegally stopping a near certain Wells try. To no avail as the Kent side drove over again to tie matters.
Despite being down to fourteen men Letchworth struck just before the break when a fine long pass from Tom Aviss hit Josh Parkhouse in full flow for a great score. Brother Charlie slotted the conversion in true Sharpy style to put Legends into a 17-10 half time lead.
Letchworth continued the initiative for the next ten minutes with Sharp restored. A great break by Kwaku was followed by a fine take at the lineout. The backs ran the ball well and again Josh Parkhouse burst clear… his offload was somehow picked up by Chris Gibbs grass high for a fine corner score. Minutes later he made his try saving tackle!
At 22-10 Letchworth felt Old Father Thames calling but Wells had other ideas and their strong pack were beginning to dominate. Within ten minutes and two good tries the scores were tied at 22 apiece and things looked ominous.
Despite another penalty by Sharp that was as good as it got for the North Herts side. Wells broke out of defence to score a seven pointer then quickly added another with a chip to the blind side fastened onto by the winger. Letchworth looked a bit ragged at this stage as the Kent side added one more before Charlie Parkhouse brought it back to 32-43 at the close.
Well done to Wells but no shame to Legends who contributed so much to this fine game and can now have a deserved rest before next season’s campaign begins before we know it! Cheerio all!
Team: Robinson, Hughes, Turner, Jones, Walker, Mongston, Fitts, Lewis, Aviss, Sharp, Asiedu, Johal, Parkhouse C, Parkhouse J, Gibbs
Replacements: Hughes K, Fawsett, Marume
