Letchworth RUFC 50 Shelford 18:

Storm Ciaran may have passed over the east Anglian region on Thursday but it hit Shelford hard at about fifteen past three on Saturday and continued for the next half hour as legends enjoyed a real purple patch of attacking rugby.

Maybe their best to date over the successful two years …and the visitors were thoroughly uprooted and ditched on the rubbish heap … a late consolation try was scant reward in the last minute.

Letchworth RUFC 50 Shelford 18: Legends enjoy purple patch. CREDIT: Brian Burke

In his post match talk head coach Basra congratulated his charges on their performance and reminded them of their great work rate in training that certainly paid dividends today …. But to keep them grounded reminded them they were not the finished article yet ! However it was fair to say that man of the match could have been between all eighteen of them … it came down to three … Titherington , Parkhouse and Streets with the latter getting the nod from skipper Fitts . As well as the seven well worked tries and Sharps brilliant conversions for the spectators the Letchworth defence was outstanding throughout and was a real testament to the spirit of the whole team . 

However the first half indicated little of the whirlwind to come as Shelford were well organised and extremely dangerous in possession with good strong runners especially winger Louie Tang 

Letchworth opened on the attack but an ambitious long pass from Josh Sharp nearly allowed Shelford an early score. Letchworths scrambled defence yielded a penalty easily popped over by the visitors . However Legends were soon back on the attack and from a great backs move the Guscott like gliding Titherington ghosted over and Sharp nailed the conversion . 

Letchworth then had to defend a series of Shelford attacks and then eventually a long pass which looked slightly forward saw Tang over in the corner for the visitors and an excellent conversion made it 7/10 .

The game was reaching a real pulsating level with the letchworth forwards putting in a series of drives with Rambo Hughes , Robinson and Lewis to the fore . New boy Llewelyn Jones was also a handful . It was the backs however who provided the rapier thrust. The excellent Richard Streets took the ball at pace before giving a test match standard reverse pass a la Sonny Bill Williams variety to Luke Mongston who crashed over to make a fine score with Sharp adding the extras . An exchange of penalties in the final ten minutes of the first half meant the teams went in with the scores at 17/14 with legends facing the wind and a dropping sun in the second half 

Letchworth RUFC 50 Shelford 18: Legends enjoy purple patch. CREDIT: Brian Burke

The large crowd of mainly Letchworth supporters needn't have worried about these adverse conditions as from the kick off flying winger Chris Gibbs got to the ball in front of the large Shelford forwards and nearly made it over the line .The letchworth support was up quickly and the ball flew out to Charlie Parkhouse who cut a fine line to make a great score , Sharp again converting . 

Minutes later Tom Lewis , Llewelyn Jones and rampaging sub Max Heathman broke through the Shelford defence and centre Titherington was on hand to finish the job . Although shell shocked at 31/13 the visitors attempted to get back into the match but the Letchworth defence was truly heroic and then a great breakout nearly led to another try for Letchworth . 

It really wasn't Shelfords day as their scrum put on a great shove in their own 22 .. however the ball was left unprotected behind the number eights feet and no better man than Harvey the Ferret Howman seized it and went over to bury the Cambridge side with Sharps boot making it 38/13 . 

A rampant Letchworth side now really made hay . The other two subs Walker and Hughes came on and really made their presence felt in the lineout whilst Tommy Wilcock played with real determination and Max Heathman was proving a real handful on the flank.

Once again Letchworth swept up to the Shelford 22 and Sharp switched the ball inside to Charlie Parkhouse who ran a great line to score near the posts and Sharp again was unerring to make the score 45/13.

Letchworth RUFC 50 Shelford 18: Legends enjoy purple patch. CREDIT: Brian Burke

They were not done yet and another fine move took Letchworth down to the clubhouse corner withGibbs just short . Again swift ball up the hill saw Parkhouse link with young Josh Staddon to make it 50 with Sharps conversion just drifting wide . 

Well it was definitely all over but in fairness to Shelford although well beaten they didn't give up and a final flourish brought a great last score for winger Tang in the corner . 

No doubting the victors at No Side and the celebrations long into the night in the clubhouse confirmed this 

Now Legends face two tough battles on the road to Sudbury and Rochford over the next two weeks . If they maintain this form however the journey should contain few terrors . A real turnaround in the last month and credit to all players and coaching staff alike …. The saga continues …… 

 Team from 1  

 Robinson 

  Hughes K 

  Wilkinson

  Wilcock

  Jones 

  Mongston

  Fitts 

  Lewis 

  Howman 

  Sharp 

  Gibbs 

  Titherington

   Streets

   Staddon 

   Parkhouse 

    Hughes T 

    Walker 

    Heathman 

Letchworth's Three (legendary) Stooges...