Sat 26 Sep 2026, 15:00
Sometimes you can just get too much of a good thing, and with a tick over of nearly 1.3 points a minute, there was no shortage of action in this opening encounter of a delayed season. In the bar afterwards, which was jumping to an Oktoberfest oompah band, both Presidents agreed that their sides had been equally indulgent in granting scores to their rivals, though in head coach Baz Basra’s mind there was no doubt that, with three intercepts and two kick aheads making up ONs’ scores, the home side had been the guiltier. Also, Legends would have done well to have followed the game plan of pack leader Llewelyn Jones and kept the ball tighter before allowing it out to the backs. ONs are a young and vibrant side who delight in broken play and end-to-end stuff, and in Rivens in the centre, with four tries, and Smears, a nippy scrum half, they have two outstanding players. It seemed that they had benefited from pre-season games and were just that more jelled than a Letchworth side containing a raft of new faces. However, as skipper Josh Sharp reiterated after the dust had settled, “One game does not define a season… So watch the video of the game, digest and learn! We go again next week!”
Legends were late to the party as ONs made the most of the first 10 minutes, fizzing and buzzing, and were soon 14 points up.
Then a typical break from Josh Parkhouse saw him illegally upended, but the referee played on as the ball was spun out to Aman Johal to go over for a converted try.
More ON pressure saw ONs’ Haley score a good drop goal before Letchworth replied, with Sharp’s long pass out to Parkhouse providing five points, and then, just before half time, Kwaku, who had been dangerous for the whole first half, burst over to score and tie things at 17 all at half time as Sharp’s two conversions untypically drifted wide.
However, the 10 minutes into the second half belonged to the visitors as, firstly, a disastrous long pass from Johal was intercepted, and then Rivens cut through like a knife through butter in the centre, and it was 17-31. Another terrible fumble in the centre allowed ONs through for another soft score, and it seemed game over at 17-31.
But one thing you can never underestimate in this Letchworth team is their grit and determination. Johal made amends with a great dummy to score, and then a well worked move allowed Parkhouse in, and suddenly it was a one score game at 31-36.
However, then another loose kick ahead gave ONs another gift as Basra rang the changes, and replacements Chris Gibbs and Caleb Reeves, who both had impressive games, scored two tries to make it 43 all.
The excitement was not over as now Legends took the lead, with returning flanker Archie Barrett dummying the defence to get a seven pointer under the posts.
Home exhilaration was, however, tempered by the young ONs scoring from a quick penalty and catching the home side napping to tie things, and then, with a draw looking a fair enough result, Letchworth were again dispossessed in the last minute and ONs ran in a superb try at the death to snatch a deserved victory. Things will need to be a lot tighter with a trip to Eton Manor next week. On a happier note, stalwart prop Oscar Robinson was presented with a tankard and shirt for his two hundred and fiftieth appearance in the black and amber jersey. Well done to the Club Captain.
1924s Win at Luton
The 1924’s took on Luton 1st on Saturday and imposed themselves with an early Koye Sule try. Luton hit back, but further tries from Andy Young and James Crabb gave them a turn around at 7-17.
Luton stayed in touch, but tries from Young and Tyler Uyls kept them chasing the game. Crabb’s boot doing the converting and with a final penalty took the 24’s to their first win of the season.
The 1924’s play Harpenden II at Legends Lane on 3rd October. Join me for drinks in the Presidents’ Bar at 1400 for a 1500 kick off.
Match Stats
0-5 Koye Sule try
5-5 Luton try
7-5 Luton con
7-10 Andy Young try
7-12 James Crabb con
7-17 James Crabb try
Halftime
12-17 Luton try
14-17 Luton con
14-22 Andy Young try
14-24 James Crabb con
19-24 Luton try
21-24 Luton con
21-29 Tyler Uyls try
21-31 James Crabb con
26-31 Luton try
28-31 Luton con
28-34 James Crabb pen
