Sat 13 Nov 2021
Old Streets were formed some thirty years ago from a bohemian set of artists, sculptors and actors and in this first ever game against the Legends they definitely wrote the play as the last act of this epic match belonged to them. There were plenty of twists and turns in the plot up to then with a few red herrings thrown in for good measure. For example Letchworth outscored the hosts by seven tries to six but the Streets number 10 Fitzpatrick, late of Old Wesley Dublin, nailed every kick and that on a day when Ireland beat the All Blacks!
The Letchworth pack was dominant, winning a bucketful of penalties only to concede one in Streets 22 when they needed it most with five minutes to go. Both Gurure and his opposite winger scored hat tricks but the Streets backs had the edge in their direct play through the middle. Back rower Luke Mongston had a stormer but even he discovered he could not win it on his own for Legends and every time Letchworth seemed to be about to motor out of sight they were pulled back into the dog fight by a home side whose defence was at times awesome and whose artistry in the try department worthy of an old master. So while the North Herts side again came second for two weeks in a row they again came away deservedly with two bonus points and remain in the top four.
The first half saw early dominance by Letchworth and a good try by Arun Johal, playing at full back in the absence of Gibbs, came at the end of several phases of good play. A mistake from the restart then let Old Streets in for their first of six seven pointers. Letchworth then sent wave after wave at the Streets line and eventually Johal got the ball to Gurure who went over with Arun’s brother Hem Johal converting.
However Streets retained the lead when a good chip through saw them go over. The Letchworth pack were totally destructive up front and won several penalties before Gurure fed fellow winger Josh Dell and Mongston was on hand to go over but again the conversion was missed so it was 14/17. At this point Letchworth were totally dominant and eschewed several chances before some fine play saw Gurure go over again to make it 14/22 at half time.
When Letchworth’s winger got his third just after the break it looked Letchworth could tear loose at 14/27 but the home side had other ideas as a good try near the posts made it a six point game at 21/27.
The Letchworth pack again showed their dominance as Johal’s penalty to the corner saw them rumble over with Mongston touching down and Davies converting from near the touchline. Again Streets pulled them back to 28/34 after a good period of play. Then in another twist to the plot a quickly taken penalty by Mongston saw sniping scrum half Harvey Howman go over in the corner to take the score to 28/39, but no time to draw breath as first a try gleaned from a Letchworth error and then another from a great break in the centre finishing out wide suddenly found the home side three points ahead in this topsy turvey encounter.
Now Legends had to chase the game but though there were several opportunities none were translated into points and a lost penalty at scrum time was a real slap in the face as the home side celebrated this rare piece of forward domination. It came at the right time though as there was no time for the visitors to come back and Streets themselves might have scored again.
So a game of high drama ended with Legends on the wrong side of the score line but indeed no tragedy, and skipper Liam Fitts - voted man of the match - and his team mates will have a free weekend before they meet Ruislip at Letchworth on November 27th. There is a lunch beforehand … all diners ring Brian BURKE on 07768274037 to book your places.
Team from 1:
Robinson
Hughes
Stokes
Schoeman
Wilcock
Allison
Fitts
Mongston
Howman
Johal H
Gurure
Campbell
Kevans
Dell
Johal A
Tate
Amos
Davies
