Letchworth Garden City 17 - St.Albans 23
index: tiffanyteenSaints travelled to their Hertfordshire near neighbours Letchworth Garden City RFC having lost at home to them 15-6 in their League fixture in December.This is the penultimate League game of the season,with nothing much riding on the outcome for the hosts comfortably safe from both League promotion or relegation.On the other hand a win for Saints today could mean relegation survival or a huge step in that direction as they start the day third from bottom in a brutally competitive Powergen London North 2 League.
Would Letchworth ,founded 4 decades before these rugby Saints , show any mercy or instead set "The Pie Eater " and his ravening mates on the babes of the League ? Or could Saints bring that bit extra to their cause,from above perhaps, to win the day ?
Conditions were mainly sunny, 11C with a strong NW wind blowing diagonally across a rock hard pitch from the town end.There was a good atmosphere on the touchline where around 70 folk had just watched Letchworth Vets play a newly -formed special side Saracens Bravehearts ,final score 36-30.
In the Clubhouse our highly sociable hosts entertained around 40 VP's from both clubs to a fine lunch -this a Hertfordshire occasion where friendships and rivalries go back decades.
Saints won the toss and captain Dan Hillier in consultation with No 10 Jack Stevenson elected to start at the town end with the wind at their backs.What a wise strategic decision it turned out to be!
Referee Mr David Rolfe,a Londoner,got the contest under way at 3 pm initially in front of around 80 spectators as the bar and dining room began to empty but by full time it was nearer 120 !
Letchworth kicked off into the wind and the Spring sunshine ,no surprise to see giant prop Nick Winwood (The Pie Eater) gather in to lead a charge then maul straight up the paddock.Good Letchworth pick and drive came to a halt as they were penalised for handling in the ruck.Saints made good ground,prop Tony Giddings (picture 1) in the vanguard but the wind played havoc with the ensuing lineout- it did often during the contest.
From a turnover ,the educated boot of Jack Stevenson prodded Saints to just 10 metres from the Letchworth line .From a scrum wing Joe Shaw went on a frisky gallop but held on.Again Letchworth ran the penalty out of defence but their other big prop was penalised for the same offence.Saints' No 10 missed the kick at goal 35 metres out near the Clubhouse but Letchworth crucially knocked on for a Saints 5 metre scrum head on to the posts.
A solid Saints heel,they were all match, saw Saints No 12 inside centre Phil James blast his way openside for the Letchworth line who were forced to carry over for another scrum. Another even quicker heel but this time Saints went left down all their backline full back John Andrews (picture 2) , with impeccable timing, entering the line to score a fine pacy try in the corner - unconverted.
On 15 minutes Letchworth 0 Saints 5 .
The game moved up a gear both sides mixing it up ,forwards and backs now playing sevens style before Letchworth arrived just 5 metres from Saints' line for a Letchworth scrum .
Saints surprisingly pushed them off their clean strike but the ball squirted out and in a flash the Letchworth No 9 fed No 11 wing Gervais Peters for a snap blindside try in the corner-unconverted.
On 17 minutes Letchworth 5 Saints 5.
This galvanised Saints ,their eight to the fore with more pick and go, Letchworth finally preventing release .The ensuing penalty was missed but from the dropout Letchworth were back under the Boggymead cosh .Green ,Giddings and Louw went on a rampaging drive joined by wings Coy and Shaw but Letchworth defended well until more Saints' support in the form of hooker Brenton Lemiere (picture 3) arrived.He,the new Herts County squad member with the very low undercarriage rolled off the maul from 15 metres out to score a by now trademark try, carrying 3 defenders with him over the line near the Letchworth posts.
Centre No13 Mark Kentish kicked an easy conversion.
Letchworth were now forced to substitute their huge tall No 4 second row suffering a back injury.He was only 18 stone, but Letchworth's mighty pack including second row Deputy Pie Eater Darren Spillane, went rumbling on unaffected, still with two 20 stoners plus in their front five .
On 21 minutes Letchworth 5 Saints 12.
There was more ebb and flow before Saints hard man flanker Richard Louw was penalised for going high near his 22.Letchworth missed their only penalty attempt at goal of the game and Saints ran the ball 50 metres ,forwards and backs in the sevens spirit to put Letchworth under more pressure.Their captain No 19 was penalised and warned for killing the ball near the red zone head on to the posts , 25 metres out .
Mark Kentish did the needful assisted by the strong wind.
On 34 minutes Letchworth 5 Saints 15.
Saints' superior fitness was beginning to tell as Letchworth re-offended by holding on in the tackle .From 35 metres out Mark Kentish kicked another good wind assisted penalty precisely between the sticks.
On 38 minutes,Letchworth 5 Saints 18.
Letchworth were in no mood to lie down and on 40 minutes forced Saints into a penalty on their 22 far out.
Letchworth then forced an attacking lineout ,won clean, Letchworth's No 9 James Tyrell going on a mazy run through the Saints defence mesmerising everyone including his own side. After a series of jinks,swerves,dummies and sidesteps he flew over in the corner for an exceptional individual try -unconverted.
On 42 minutes Letchworth 10 Saints 18.
The half petered out with more Letchworth injury breaks but the Boggymead Boys still on the attack.
Half Time Score . Letchworth 10 St.Albans 18 .
With the elements in their favour and a lively ,well stoked partisan crowd now numbering about 120,the earlier match players had joined the touchline throng, could Letchworth in their own backyard overturn Saints' lead ?
The men in blue and gold started the second half by dropping out directly into touch for a scrum back to the hosts.Letchworth soon turned over their own ball and Saints countered, their pack driving well with Letchworth making a high tackle.Stevenson's strategic kicking ,going well all game, gave Saints an attacking lineout. County No 8 John Sayers collected at the tail and with the pack plus wings Coy and Shaw in support made slow progress due to a good Letchworth defensive backline who forced a turnover.Full back John Andrews fielded a rare kick ahead by Letchworth but sliced it into touch just outside his 22 for a Letchworth lineout.Flanker Richard Louw stole the Letchworth throw but knocked on.
At the scrum the lively Letchworth overseas No 8 known as Taggy picked up and drove slipping a fine pass to No 13 centre Dan South who flew east to score next to Saints' posts-converted by their No 10 Darren Messenger.
On 46 minutes it's game well and truly on at Letchworth 17 Saints 18.