Sat 18 Jan 2020
A low score in a match of high intensity. Both sides had their chances to take the spoils but it was the west London side, presently third in the league, who scored the only try from a rolling maul which was their most potent weapon. Letchworth defended it well throughout the game but on this occasion Chiswick proved too powerful. Letchworth can look to another fine scrummaging game and an improved lineout and better ball retention. Chiswick however were more fluent and linked better between forwards and backs and their tactical kicking certainly caused the home side more problems. The match could be divided into four quarters with the home side dominating in one and three but under the pump certainly in the last twenty minutes of each half.
On a bright and reasonably still afternoon Legends started well enough and early pressure brought a penalty converted by Jai Johal. Several chances were lost before the Chiswick try after twenty minutes, the first time they had been in the Letchworth red zone. The kick went wide but now Chiswick dominated for the remainder of the half. Debutant winger Kayne Kitchener was subjected to some good tactical kicking and he and full back Joe Hall saved an almost certain try. The following ten minutes saw Letchworth defending at their best until relief came with half time.
The opening period of the second half was all Letchworth and several penalties were won after scrum dominance. One of these was definitely kickable and this might have been the option in this tightest of matches. However Letchworth went for another scrum and were just foiled on the line when the ball was lost and cleared by the relieved visitors. Then a great break by Jai Johal with Chris Gibbs in support saw the final delivery go inches above Kitchener’s outstretched fingers, glory thus eluding the youngster.
However now Chiswick took control and pinned Letchworth back in their own quarter and relieving kicks failed to find a decent length touch. The home defence was magnificent over a sustained period but finally when a penalty was awarded to the visitors Chiswick took the sensible decision to bang over what were to prove to be the final three points of the game.
Letchworth came again in the last few minutes but it was too late and the visitors held firm with their centre slicing the ball out on his own five metre line as the referee blew the final whistle.
At least there was a bonus point for their endeavours but Letchworth will be looking for more - and indeed revenge from their earlier defeat this season - from near neighbours Datchworth when they visit the villagers stronghold next week, kick off again at 2 pm.
Also on Saturday Letchworth 2s came back from behind to beat Tring. Letchworth started the game slowly and found themselves trailing the visitors at half time. But a fine second half performance helped them seize control of the game and turn things around to finish up winning 43-10. There were notable performances from Brendan Hunt, Mike Gray and Dave Taylor whose physical carries helped turn the tide and seal the victory for the Legends.
1st XV Team from 1:
ROBINSON
Hughes
Mellor
Flatman( c )
Brain
Hatch
STACEY
Allison
Gibbs
Johal J
Davies J
Johal Aman
Johal Arun
Kitchener
Hall
Charlier
Allen
Jones
Please enter your page detail here. This can be HTML or text. To edit click the first menu icon on the small HTML menu that appears when you click on this text. Please use the elements on the right if you wish to construct a richer page content with headers, images and layout grids.
