Sat 14 Dec 2019
Lowly Luton provided Legends with an early Christmas present on Saturday with the last game before the season’s festivities start in earnest. The bonus point win meant that the North Herts side have amassed 26 points at the half way stage of the season and there is certainly clear water between them and the bottom three teams. When one realises that at this stage last season Letchworth held up the entire league, coach Dave Hynard can reflect that the team are in a far better place physically and mentally than this time last year. For Luton there was little Christmas cheer as they remain rooted to the bottom and whilst their forwards, especially their eight, fought valiantly there was little to write home about in the backs.
Legends laid out their statement of intent early on as Arun Johal cut through the Luton defence and man of the match Lewis Jones was on hand to go over. Jai Johal added the points.
Luton mounted a few attacks but the Letchworth defence was in good order. Again the Letchworth pack dominated in the set scrum and from this platform new Welsh centre Daffyd Lloyd skipped over for another score.
Luton then went down to fourteen with a sin binning and the visitors began to dominate. Broken play found dynamic prop Oscar Robinson on the 22 metre line and he sprinted in for a fine try, rolling over the line after being tackled five metres out. The bonus point was secured by a fine individual run from Arun Johal, and his cousin Jai slotted the points to make it a very comfortable 24/0 lead at half time.
The less said or written about the second half the better really as the rugby became about as gloomy as the weather. Whether Letchworth thought it was job done or there was more spirit from the Luton forwards, there was little to cheer for either side in the second forty. Maybe the most entertaining incident was the dust up and subsequent hand bags between skipper Johnny Brain and the Luton centre ... only one winner there really!
After twenty minutes of somewhat turgid play Luton won ball deep in their own 22. A woeful pass however saw winger Tommy Robinson seize on the loose ball and plunder a seven pointer as Jai Johal added the points. However Luton dominated the last quarter as Letchworth lost Kyle ‘Rambo’ Hughes for a high tackle and a ten minute sin binning.
The Luton number eight put up an up and under and caught it himself to go over for a consolation score, and although they were close to the Letchworth line at the end it was all too little too late and it is unlikely the gloom at Newlands will lift in the second half of the season.
However now Legends seem to have discovered winning ways they can look with confidence to the next few games as all sides in this league are eminently beatable.
The seconds went down narrowly at home.
Happy Christmas from one and all at Legends Lane!
Team
Robinson
Hughes
Turner
Schoeman
Brain (c)
Jones
Charlier
Allison
Ansell
Johal J
Johal A
Lloyd
Robinson
Davies J
Dennis
Johal Aman
Williams
The President’s Mulled Wine party takes place next Sunday 22nd from 3.30 to 6.30 and all are welcome.
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