Letchworth 3rd XV 17 Harlow 4th XV 0

Merit Table 

Not since Woodford, have the words “2nd team game cancelled,” really had any significance for us.  We decided to arrive with a bare 15, thanks Damien for stepping up from the 3s, and thanks to the two guys from the 2s who didn’t bother to turn up at all(good job that’s what we expected to happen).  After last week there was an air of relaxation about us, that was to cause us a few problems.  A non-existent warm up and with players missing through injury, we took to the field early.

Letchworth got off to a flying start earning a penalty in our 22, the infringement had been drawn to the referees attention by a Letchworth player and the penalty given.  Moments later I drew the referees attention to an infringement and again a penalty was given, unfortunately the penalty was against me as the referee did not want anyone to tell him how to ref.  The pack was well matched in size, although we took our usual opportunity to take all of our scrums and most of theirs.  Unfortunately their backs were all young, fit and some of them appear in the 2nd team photo, they did not take long to realise that they could cause us problems.  The tackling in defence was awesome, Dangler, Steve and Crabby took no prisoners.  The line-outs were a bit of a lottery for both teams, although we won more than we lost.  Letchworth lost a few players to injury including their big prop, a nasty looking ankle injury meant he had to go off.  Letchworth scored when their whippets for backs created an overlap and over they went.  At half time Letchworth led 7-0, we had used our sub when Aunty suffered an injury not tackling the player, but electing to headbutt his knee instead, this slowed him down for about a nanosecond and has given Aunty a small scratch under his eye

We shuffled our team about at half time while Letchworth elected to bring on about 5 new players and go uncontested in the scrum, all those players and not a front row spare amongst them, how strange.  The defence was tight all through the game, although they kept targeting the wings, which was very worrying, 2 more tries came from the new Letchworth backs, who barely broke into a sweat, neither was converted and the game ended 17-0.  The pack spent the whole of the 2nd half chasing around like headless chickens after the Letchworth backs, no scrums means no fun!

Comedy moments-Pre game chat “no-one talks to the ref except the captain,” 80 minutes later I stopped giving him some advice, although the 2nd half was a lot more successful, for this I get COTM.

Swampy asking the referee what happens if after a player has kicked the ball he is taken out late, how can the other players be onside?  This question arose as Swampy was splattered ages after the ball was gone, the ref did not see the irony, but pondered the question for a while.  The referee had a good game, no-one really had anything to moan about, although a number of supporters were offering him unlimited advice.

One of the Letchworth players took a 10 minute break for dissent, very unusual for a 3rd team player.

Crabby also took a 10 minute 4th team fag break.  The referee sent him off for punching, apparently he threw several haymaker style punches/jabs and uppercuts, none of which anyone saw, except the linesman!!!, definitely did not just push the blokes shoulder after a late tackle and tell him to eff off (that would not be worth a 10 minute rest)

Everyone who played put in a great performance, a nice test for us before this weekends game against Clapton.

Difficult to pick a MOTM this week, the forwards dominated until it went uncontested and all of the backs tackled hard all game.  Barney did well in the loose and Big Andy and Aunty powered up the middle well.

COTM-I am going to share this with Aunty this week, which lets off Mumbles and Justin(or as he is now known to us as “Token”) who already has it for next week for not being available and for getting a suntan that makes him look as though he has been Tangoed.

After the game Danny Fitz had to drink a nasty pint for his birthday (a great warm up for later) and we enjoyed the usual hospitality at the club, Letchworth getting the beers in meant that even in defeat we could be gracious.

To view more match reports - click here