Brentwood 12 Letchworth GC 19

This season Letchworth have impressed with their flowing style of rugby but now was the time for true grit and they were not found wanting ! 

With Brentwood having suffered only one home defeat this season – to title contenders Southend Saxons – this always looked as though it would be a tough test for Letchworth … and so it proved. Each of the Letchworth players deserve huge credit for digging deep to hold on and secure a hard fought 12 – 19 victory to remain unbeaten this season.

The match saw the return of Michael Waters at outside centre, making his first appearance of the season after work commitments overseas. It didn't take him long to show his class, a mazy run from deep in his own half in to Brentwood territory giving Letchworth their first attacking opportunity, but they were unable to convert it in to points.

They didn't have to wait long before they were back on the attack in Brentwood's 22, and a high tackle provided fly-half Will Titherington the opportunity to kick deep to the corner. From the lineout Letchworth set up the driving maul but a handling error gave Brentwood the scrum. Letchworth's pack shoved Brentwood back but they still managed to clear their lines with a kick to the 22, and Letchworth's opportunity was over when Brentwood stole the lineout. That passage of play set the tone at the set piece for the remainder of the match, with Letchworth dominating the scrums but Brentwood having the upper hand in the lineouts. It was from another scrum in Brentwood's 22 that nearly provided Letchworth's first score, the ball being moved swiftly left to Waters but he was penalised for holding on when under the posts and a couple of metres short.  

Titherington won Letchworth a penalty with an excellent jackal on Brentwood's 10m line, and he kicked the penalty deep to the left corner. From the lineout the ball was spread right back in to Titherington's hands and his excellent offload when brought to ground allowed Waters to stroll in for Letchworth's first score. Full back Ben Palmer made the tricky conversion to make it 0 – 7.

A good period of possession for Brentwood saw them make their first foray in to Letchworth's 22, but a handling error close to the try line allowed Letchworth to kick to touch from the scrum.  Brentwood's lineout was just outside the 22 and they won it cleanly to quickly move the ball left to score mid-way between the posts and left touchline. A well struck conversion brought the scores level at 7 – 7.

Letchworth were to regain the lead and again it came from a scrum. Scrum-half Harvey Howman picked up and made a great break and lovely offloads by Luke Mongston and then fellow back rower Tom Lewis put Waters away down the right wing. The opportunity looked to have gone when he didn't take advantage of a two man overlap and was tackled just short but the ball was quickly re-cycled and spread left for captain Liam Fitts to dive over in the corner for a fine score. Palmer was unable to convert the difficult kick so Letchworth's lead was 7 – 12.

With half time fast approaching inside centre Ma'asi was penalised for a tip tackle on the half-way line, harshly in the view of the travelling support. Brentwood kicked to the 22 on the right touchline to set up a driving maul, and with the whitewash in sight their hooker peeled off to dive over. The extras couldn't be added so at half time it was 12 – 12 and all to play for.

The second half proved to be even more physical than the first, with both defences on top and attacks in the 22s few and far between. The flow of the game struggled to get going with both teams regularly penalised at the breakdown, and as a result play was often scrappy. Letchworth's scrummaging remained dominant but their lineouts continued to mis-fire, with a number of throw ins judged not straight by the ref. Hooker Jack Askham and prop Richard Stokes had to leave the field of play early on due to injuries, with Ma'asi moving from centre to take over the hooking duties. Ma'asi had a fine game, particularly in the second half, making many hard yards with ball in hand.

The only score of the half came after Brentwood had stolen a Letchworth lineout but then knocked on to give Letchworth a scrum just inside the Brentwood 22 near the right touchline. After another great shove by the Letchworth pack the ball was spread left and a lovely flat pass by Waters saw Titherington break the line to dive in under the posts for Letchworth's third and final try. Palmer had an easy conversion to make it 12 – 19.

Brentwood were determined to secure a comeback win but excellent Letchworth defence kept them out for the remainder of the game. The final few minutes were frantic but Letchworth's courageous defence was rewarded when Brentwood were penalised in the game's final attack for holding on at the breakdown. This was a very important, gritty win that means Letchworth hold on to top spot in the league.

 So with 27 unbeaten matches on the bounce Letchworth go into December with two home games against Woodford and Chingford . There are lunches before both and all diners should contact Brian Burke on 07768274037 to book their places . 

Team: 

Robinson

Askham

Stokes 

Amos 

Wilcock 

Mongston

Fitts. C 

Lewis 

Howman

Titherington

Gurere

Ma'asi

Waters

Staddon

Palmer

Hay

Tate

Gibbs