Sat 22 Jan 2022
Although the final score flattered Legends this was a hard fought encounter and it was only in the last quarter that the floodgates opened over the unfortunate visitors. For the first fifty minutes they frustrated Letchworth and disrupted their patterns. Legends for their part were misfiring … some players over eager to hold on to possession and others getting isolated and turning over the ball … but what the heck, you cannot expect the Harlem Globetrotters every week! Hackney were physical and not afraid to tackle, putting in a full shift to stymy their talented opponents for a long period of this match.
The visitors did not have much weaponry in attack but having frustrated the hosts for the first fifteen minutes actually had the temerity to take the lead beating Letchworth at their own driving maul as they rumbled over. However 0/5 was the best that it got for the basemented Londoners as Letchworth clawed their way back into the game. A fine move involving skipper Fitts, Arun Johal and Gurure saw the winger impeded just before the line. Gibbs, playing at scrum half, took a quick one but was impeded and the referee awarded a penalty try. Letchworth were soon back in the visitors 22 with several impressive drives involving old warhorse Adam Amos before the ball moved to Titherington and young warhorse Tommy Wilcock crashed over. Hem Johal landed a fine conversion from the touchline. Several more chances went begging and at half time it was 14/5 with Hackney very much in it.
Again Hackney plugged away for the first ten minutes of the second half but things began to look ominous when a thirty metre drive from the pack ended with popular hooker ‘Rambo’ Hughes going over. The visitors tried to reduce the arrears with a penalty which went wide but now Legends were gaining in confidence. Another fine move saw Gurure brought down just short but from the resulting penalty scrum replacement number 8 Joe Allison squeezed round the post protector for Letchworth’s fourth and a bonus point. The conversion from Hem Johal made it 26/5 and the game more or less over. But Baz Basra and his coaching team demand full on attack till the end and the team were not resting on their laurels. New dad prop Conor Turner again impressed and was one who set up good ball for the backs which was moved quickly through the Johals to Gibbs, now on the wing. This was applauded by another new dad prop on the touchline Matt Tate, who is looking to return in the next few weeks.
The house of Hackney was now in ruins as again Turner led the charge. The ball went to Kyle ‘Rambo’ Hughes who from thirty metres destroyed the Hackney defence on his own, going over with two defenders clinging to him but unable to bring the powerhouse down. Hem Johal again added the points. Hackney were now just hoping for the end to come and minutes later it did with Letchworth winning more ball and Hem Johal slicing through the defence. Appropriately man of the match and skipper Fitts was on hand to take a great offload and go in under the posts, with Johal adding the two to make it 45/5 at full time. It was good that Fitts won his colours tie for this and other great performances during the season.
So with Fullers losing at HAC there is a big gap opening up for Letchworth’s third place and they are still putting pressure on second place Old Priorians. However it will be another hard fought scrap next week at Fullerians and all attention will be on that after the weekend. With the seconds enjoying a fine win over Finchley 26/15 it was a case of Herts 2 Londoners 0 at Legends Lane this weekend.
Team from 1:
Robinson
Hughes
Turner
Wilcock
Amos
Day
Fitts
Peasnell
Gibbs
Johal H
Gurure
Campbell
Titherington
Dell
Johal A
Subs:
Quarmby
Allison
Howman
