Sat 15 Feb 2020, 14:00
O dear! It was so close at Old Deer Park just as it was at Legends Lane earlier in the season but the Welsh side again snuck it at the end. Had Letchworth not butchered several first half chances they could well been the victors in this very tight encounter. As storm Dennis grew in stature it was a credit to both sides to keep their shape and play some attractive rugby in abysmal conditions. Special mention for Josh Page and Cameron Dennis who both started in the front row alongside veteran prop Oscar Robinson and held their own against an experienced Welsh front three throughout the afternoon. Jon Brain was also at his impactful best until a cheap shot brought a lump the size of an egg on his forehead and he had to retire. Another youngster Rob Brierley also had a good game when he came on, as did the tireless Lewis Jones who again was Letchworth top tackler.
With 300 Welsh men and women baying for their team to do their best and the anthem ringing out as they started with the strong wind at their backs, Letchworth had a surprisingly good start to the first half and attacked in the opening five minutes. A mighty boot however took Welsh into the Legends red zone and they were awarded a penalty. The ball ricocheted off the post for a let off for Letchworth but minutes later the home side were over as their scrum-half orchestrated a fine move and number 13 Rhys Howells ploughed a great straight line to go over for a five nil lead.
Despite the strong wind the next twenty minutes were all Letchworth. A kick out by Welsh saw Joe Hall gallop down the field and find flying winger T Gurure who was just brought down close to the line. Several drives later Legends were camped on the Welsh line but failed to score. Five minutes later a great move saw a two man overlap for Letchworth near the corner but somehow they did not get over and again Welsh escaped with their line intact. When another near scoring pass was intercepted and the ball went 70m down the field the visitor’s impetus was lost. Then to rub salt into the wound right on half-time Welsh went over for another score which again was unconverted to leave matters 10 nil at halftime.
Letchworth now had the wind but things went awry from the kick off which failed to go ten metres. In fact Legends had fewer scoring chances with the wind than against it. Gibbs replaced Howman at scrum half and was brought down taking a quick penalty. Letchworth now opted to kick but Jai Johal was just wide with his first attempt. Minutes later he struck a far better effort from nearly 40 metres out to bring Letchworth within one score at 10/3 with twenty to go . Returning number 8 Luke Mongston tried a humongous drop goal attempt that just went wide and Legends continued to battle hard but to no avail. A great blindside move by Gibbs and Mongston broke down deep in the Welsh 22. The home side then broke upfield and were awarded a penalty in front of the Letchworth posts but against the gale fly half Dawes kick was low and wide.
Minutes later it was all over as Welsh gratefully booted the ball into the stand to bring matters to a close. Letchworth can be pleased with their performance as they go into a rerun of the battle of the Garden Cities next Saturday. The kick off against Welwyn will be at 2.30 and there will be a former players lunch at 12.30 … if you want to join the fun with your old team mates then contact BRIAN BURKE on 07768 274037
Team from 1
ROBINSON
Page
Dennis
Brain
Flatman
Allison
Charlier
Mongston
HOWMAN
Johal J
Gurure
Johal Arun
Lloyd
Hall
Gibbs
Brierley
Jones
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