Sat 28 Sep 2019
It is always gratifying for the cub reporter when there is plenty to write about in a rugby match and Legends trip to Chiswick did not disappoint. Indeed the plotlines would have provided Mr W Shakespeare with some useful twists in his plays and a full list of dramatis personae appears at the end of this little piece.
From inexcusable late drop outs to the courage of a young man plucked from the relative obscurity of the Wanderers and being told that he was not a substitute but actually starting as prop against the league leaders ... a position he had rarely played. The team arriving in the Baldock Senior Citizens mini bus much to the amusement of the hosts. Two really David like comebacks against Goliath, an awful injury necessitating a change of pitches from the RFU 4G carpeted luxury to something resembling Bagshot Vipers extra B out of Michael Greens coarse rugby books. The chance of a seventeen year old school boy covering himself in glory cruelly denied, to one of the men of the match receiving a cheap shot after the final whistle had blown and responding with a hook that fitness coach Tom Ansell would have been proud when he triumphed at York Hall several hours later. If all this is for you gentle reader then press on!
Coach Dave Hynard was pleased with the shape of his pack until two late drop outs caused his already receding hairline to retreat a few further centimetres. Big hand then to Paddy Allen, prop, and Dave Hatch, hooker, who stepped up to the plate and insured that this game went ahead. The Letchworth scrum may have creaked but it never buckled and again the lineout with Harry Charlier and skipper Sean Flatman on top form insured the team were not starved of possession.
However the first quarter of the game looked ominous for legends and it seemed like it might go the same way as last season when they were thrashed by 40 points on this very pitch. Continuous home possession meant that the visitors were soon under the cosh and after several drives the scrum half Lowe went in for an unconverted try. Letchworth forced themselves into the home side 22 from the restart but then gave away a penalty enabling Chiswick to clear their lines. Again the penalty count is an area that needs working on for the management team and more importantly the players. After this it was all Chiswick possession for twelve minutes with some classy play underlining why they will be one of the leagues forerunners this year and no real surprise when they added another try after twenty minutes.
However it was now that Letchworth found their self belief and started to produce some useful moves themselves. This was partially inspired by Chris Gibbs at scrum half, who had a game that was close to reproducing his best form of several seasons ago. A great backs move saw a Chiswick man receive a yellow for a deliberate knock on. A long lineout saw Hatch gallop through and then Gibbs spun the ball through Johal the other way. Lumbering second row Johnny Brain showed great hands to put the ball out to Jack Anthony who crashed over to make it 10/5. Minutes later Legends were right back in the mix as Joe Allison won ball and Tattinda Gurure embarked on a mazy run. Centre Arun Johal took it on before being felled with a nasty cut to the mouth that meant he had to leave the field later on and then from a pick and go on the Chiswick line debutant Paddy Allen seized the ball to go over and level the scores.
Just on the stroke of half time Chris Gibbs took a quick penalty and was deliberately impeded by Lopes the openside flanker who received ten minutes in the sin bin for his efforts. Legends failed to add to their score but the leaders were visibly rattled at the break as they deliberately got the ball into touch to end the first forty minutes.
However the third quarter belonged to Chiswick as Legends got into the wrong end of the referees whistle. A well taken lineout in the Letchworth 22 saw a quick move to the centres who went over for a well taken try which was converted. Another seven pointer followed and it seemed that normal service was restored for the league leaders but still this feisty Letchworth side refused to admit defeat.
From another well taken lineout Chris Gibbs burst through the Chiswick defence and then set flying flanker Harry Charlier loose to elude two men and score under the posts for Josh Davies to add the points. Then another great break out involving Davies, Gibbs and Flatman saw them deep into the Chiswick red zone. Unfortunately the whistle went with the line so close as it turned out there was a serious knee injury for one of the home sides key players who had collided with burly Johnny Brain. It was clear that he could not be moved until the ambulance arrived so the game had to shift to one of the grass pitches down the slope with faint markings and a no conversion kick policy at the end overlooking the allotments! This fact was to prove crucial as had Letchworth played in this direction they would have enjoyed the elements that they had had so far in the second half.
However it was clear that the real grass suited the visitors who banged on the Chiswick line with a series of drives across the pitch until stylish full back Jordan Davies crossed in the corner. The conversion from seventeen year old Aman Johal drifted agonisingly wide to leave the scores at 24/22 but there was more drama to come.
In the dying embers of this fiery match Legends received a penalty on the half way line. Up stepped the young schoolboy Aman Johal for an ambitious strike which would have won the game at the death. It was indeed a fine strike but against the wind it just dropped short and begs the question ... what would have happened with the wind at his back which could have given him the few extra yards? It was not to be however and a fine game ended with a bonus point win for the leaders but two valuable points for Letchworth who can expect an influx of players back from injury and honeymoon over the next few weeks. Fortunately the Chiswick man was revived and waved to both teams who came back to see him after the match in true sporting spirit that is rugby football as he was driven away in the ambulance.
Next week it is back to Legends Lane and a local derby against newly promoted Datchworth with a three o ‘clock kick off. There is a lunch beforehand at one o clock to honour the memory of ex-skipper and chairman Roger Firth and long time supporter and cook Roger Nicholls. Places are available by ringing Brian Burke on 07768 274037
Team from 1
Robinson
Hatch
Allen
Allison
Brain
Jones
Charlier
Flatman (C)
Gibb
Johal Aman
Gurure
Davies Josh
Johal Arun
Anthony
Davies Jordan
Denooijer
Woodward
Williams
Coaches
Hynard
Johal
Manager
Mackay
Physios
Birch and Wright
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