Sat 2 Oct 2021
It was a dreadful day for open rugby with persistent rain from start to finish and certainly a day to be playing rather than watching as despite the opulence of the Grasshoppers stadium there was not a scrap of cover to be found. Still the coaching team and the Letchworth travelling faithful … the three wise monkeys … braved it out for what was to be an impressive victory on the road. Last time the two sides met was the last game before the Covid lockdown in March 2020 when the Hoppers ran out narrow winners 33/30 with a last minute penalty. This time they had another last minute penalty but as you will see the result was to be far different.
There were plenty of errors from both sides as at times the ball appeared to be like a bar of soap as it slithered over the immaculate astro turf. Fortunately one man really rose to the occasion to take a grip on the game and that was experienced scrum half Harvey Howman who had a great all round game and whose sniping kicks broke the bulky home sides forwards as they had to turn and retreat.
Grasshoppers had the best of the early stages and a period of pressure yielded a well struck penalty. However the visitors woke up and dominated the remainder of the half ... especially in the scrum department! A series of scrum penalties in the Grasshoppers 22 saw HOWMAN work the ball to Gurere. When he was brought down HOWMAN switched to rampaging forward Luke Mongston who plunged over for a fine score well converted by Dan Duke.
It looked like this would remain the score till halftime but with the clock in the red zone the Grasshoppers number 8, who was their star performer, broke through two tackles and a hole as wide as the Mersey Tunnel appeared in the visitors defence. The conversion meant scores were tied at half time.
It was crucial that Legends dominate the first period of the second half and this they did as several incursions were made in to the Grasshoppers 22. Again Gurere was held up but there was enough support behind him and Letchworth were in for another try as HOWMAN nipped over to touch down superbly converted by Hem Johal.
With ever worsening conditions there was an awful lot of stop start play and the referee - who was being assessed - seemed reluctant to let there be more flow. The frustration showed in Grasshoppers ranks as a forward was given ten minutes for an off the ball tackle. Letchworth profited in this period with another three points from the boot of Hem Johal.
It seemed that Letchworth might now edge away but the Hoppers had other ideas and they continued to take the game to Letchworth. Out of nowhere the bulky lock found space and broke through the middle. A last gasp tackle brought him down but he had done enough for the home side to score a try out wide which was crucially unconverted.
In the next few minutes Letchworth edged further ahead after another good scrummage and Dan Duke put the visitors eight points ahead and eased the visitors jitters. Grasshoppers came back as the eighty minutes passed but now they needed two scores. They had the last penalty of the game to secure at least a losing bonus point but the kicker shanked the ball and so they remained empty handed.
So this victory leaves the Legends in fifth place and now a week off before they prepare for a vital match against Hemel Hempstead at Legends Lane on October 16th. There is a league lunch beforehand and all potential diners should contact Brian BURKE on 07768274037
