Away Day Blues

In the absence of the captain and vice captain for this match Matt Adams lead the team well for this away day. Letchworth is always a tough place to play and so it proved again. Matt led from the front and in a gale force wind showed all the skills he has to offer. This was another good game of rugby and once again shows the improved strength of this league. It is a tough league but I think all players will agree it is fairly contested and lots of close games offer far more enjoyment than lots of run-a-ways.

Tring should really have won this game and even the referee (who was excellent) stated after the game that the best side had lost. I think that summed it up. Although Letchworth outscored Tring on the try count, this was a match that was back and forth and was good fun to watch. Although frustrating at times. Going with the wind in the first half Tring were up against it from the attacking Letchworth who played the conditions well. Not much fun for a kicker kicking into a gale force wind whistling straight down the pitch.

The teams both played in a attacking manor and Matt opted for several scrums instead of taking the points, which would have been some good kicks in this wind. A few scrums and penalties later, some good play down the blind side and Edward Carter scored in the corner. Some more attacking play from Tring and Matt Adams taking yet another tap penalty and going on his own scored a fantastic, weaving, powerful, energetic, fast paced try. The score at half time was 17-13.

The second half was tight until the last 10 minutes when Tring having worked hard to get up into the opposition 22 made too many mistakes when giving away possession for forcing a pass here and there. The effort was valiant again this week. Tring managed to drag the score to 24-20 after a Rory Bowness try. He was handed man of the match but was pushed by a few other outstanding performances. The front row were excellent, David Cogger smashing everything that moved, Lewis Wright playing at hooker for only the second time with many great runs and Thomas Asch's propping was superb. Tring were giving away at least two stone per man. And I thought we had a big front row!! They were large! The pie selection is obviously good in Letchworth. Matt Hutchin was also excellent again. Perhaps the most pleasing aspect was the new partnership in the centres, Mat Boswell, who is rapidly improving each week, and brought along his 15 year ols female cousin who got on very well with Steve Rogers son Tom on the touchline (he's that age as well so it's ok), anyway Mat and Rory formed an exciting partnership and had some outstanding runs between them. Mat almost won the match for Tring. But then came the dick of the day moment, one to rival Danny Max from a few weeks ago. Bruce Ferguson, who you would ague is the most experienced player, in the club, decided to forget the rules of rugby. Their player had caught the ball 5 metres from his own line, all was calm as he prepared to kick for touch, Bruce decided to run at him and tackle him for no reason (he hadn't tapped the ball). After a lot of laughing from the remaining 29 players and the supporters the referee awarded a penalty 10 metre further on. The player kicked the ball, missed touch, Nick Game chested forward to Aidan who caught it, another penalty, another kick that missed touch, another fumble and Letchworth scored and converted to win the game.

This was a shame for all 18 players of Tring who had all worked hard, ultimately it just wasn't our day.