From chaos to cruel hope for Hertford in derby defeat: Hertford 33 – 38 Letchworth
Hertford showed that they were willing to take some risks against Letchworth in another Hertfordshire derby. After experimenting with backrower Alex Kay on the wing in the defeat to Tring in the previous week, the coaches gave the 'South African approach' a go from the start and it very nearly paid off. Hertford also welcomed debutants James Bovaird and Sam Little.

This was a performance conducted in four acts: chaos, consolidation, capitulation, cruel hope.

There was no narrative arc in this game, as that would suggest structure and order. Instead, the crowd were treated to a chaotic opening with end to end rugby as both sides exchanged tries like confetti to make it 14-14, followed by Hertford's composed consolidation that built a convincing 9 point lead to go ahead 23-14, only to concede 24 points without answer as Letchworth blew Hertford away in a devastating spell of rugby to make it 23-38. The final chapter involved an impressive comeback by Herford to make it 33-38, but they couldn’t quite clinch the winner at the end.

From the outset Hertford attacked with intensity, as Morgan Jackson (playing at full back this week) gathered the ball from a kick and ran hard at Letchworth. Stef Jones broke through the middle of the breakdown and offloaded to Lewis Melton, who then released the supporting Josh Rudling to cruise under the posts from 30 metres. Lemon with the conversion and it was 7-0 with 2 minutes on the clock.

Letchworth came back in a much more structured way. Opting to go for the lineout and inevitable rolling maul, instead of the points from penalties, Letchworth put the squeeze on Hertford. Letchworth's rolling maul had been a decisive factor in their win at Hoe Lane last season, and so it was again. With the Hertford defence creaking and retreating, the ball was passed out and a Letchworth back went over. 7- 7.

Hertford came right back into it. Tracy, who had moved from the row to No 8, was repeatedly getting his hands on the ball and making powerful yards. Hertford attacked down the middle, and Gilchrist wrong footed the Letchworth backline to cut through and turn on the pace going under the posts again. 14 – 7 in just a handful of minutes.

Letchworth resorted to type, making the most of the penalties that Hertford were conceding, and got their maul going again. There was better disruption of the maul this time, but Letchworth had enough momentum for the backs to run onto the ball at pace and score. 14-14 in 15 chaotic frantic minutes in which attacking rugby was definitely the winner.

Hertford consolidated at this point, and took control of the game. Kay got his first trundle down the wing, needing 3 players to stop him, and Hertford looked very comfortable in possession. Lemon, who was kicking fantastically, was also orchestrating at fly half and causing real problems for the Letchworth defence; Bill McLaren would have loved to produce a suitable sobriquet for the all arms and legs gallivanting octopus. The look was further improved when Christy Basra, playing with fire in his belly, beautifully side stepped the sizeable Letchworth winger and was roared on by the crowd.

In defence, Hertford were also beginning to deal with the Letchworth maul with some effective sacking, and Tremaine mowed down absolutely everything in a Letchworth shirt. In this period, Hertford kept plugging away, and were being rewarded with regular penalty opportunities that Lemon assuredly slotted over: 17-14, 20-14, 23-14. Building scores like this is not something of which the Hertford crowd is overly familiar, but it was just rewards for the controlled quality rugby.

Hertford, unfortunately lost a forward to the sin bin for changing the bind in a maul and then just before half time, Letchworth got possession in the Hertford 22, and one of their backs burst through to score. 23-21 at halftime to Hertford, but they had laid some solid groundwork for the second half.

Unfortunately, Letchworth blitzed Hertford from the beginning of the second half as they put the hosts on the back foot with a series of penalties as they started to get the upper hand in the scrum. Letchworth attacked with greater intensity and were making far more chances. The already impressive Letchworth backline has been improved with the addition of the ex-Cambridge winger who was beginning to show why he had recently been top scorer in National One and in the Championship. Letchworth were remorseless, scoring 3 further tries to pull away 38-23. They had scored 24 unanswered points, but Hertford had not conceded hope.

This is a determined and resilient Hertford team that continues to impress even in adversity. Bovaird's introduction in the second half steadied the scrum and gave Hertford a go-to powerful runner who made big inroads in the defensive line allowing the likes of Galvin to exploit with his additional speed. There was energy left in the team, and when Banna crusaded through the Letchworth defence from the halfway line, pirouetting through the tackles and tacklers like a cross between Billy Elliot and The Terminator to crash over the line making it 30-38 – Hertford really knew they were in with a shout.

Lemon bagged yet another penalty, and Hertford were only 5 points behind. 33-38. Could Hertford go on to finish the job? They had all of the momentum by this stage, and Letchworth were completely on the back foot. Kay got another go on the wing, going round his opposite number and in a footrace for the tryline he was just bundled into touch. With time running out, Hertford won a lineout 30 metres out and in an excellent position to attack the tiring Letchworth team. The scene was set for the climax, but sadly the lineout faltered and Letchworth gathered and smothered the ball to finish off the game.

This really was a game that could have gone either way and the difference may well have been discipline as the penalty count against Hertford was in the range where it is almost impossible to win from. You tend to get the rub of the green on penalties when you win the collisions and the visitors probably edged this part of the game.

Having said that, you don’t have to look very far for the many positives to be taken from the Hertford performance. Steff gathered the man of the Match accolade but was pushed very hard by many team mates.

Lemon was sublime with the boot, keeping the scoreboard ticking over but also mixing up the game, always looking for opportunities to set the line off but still always remaining a threat himself.

Christie, ever present, solid in defence, showing intelligence in carrying and being the main architect of stopping the Letchworth lineout in some dangerous positions.
Tremaine was a powerhouse in defence, putting in several bone crunching tackles and no mean lineout option.

Ben Gilchrist was superb in defence and attack with great running lines and quick feet.. Any of these could equally have come away with the honours and several others were worthy of ‘mentions in dispatches’.

This young side (mostly!) are starting to revel in the open free flowing style they have adopted this season and whilst there may still be a way to go, the direction of travel is undoubtedly right.

Beyond the bubbly main pitch:
The Club were able to field four teams again, with three of them at home. The Hertford 2s beat Harlow 2s 50-12, the Hertford 3s lost to Letchworth 2s 17-20 (apparently Martin Brady, playing for a depleted Letchworth, was to blame for the defeat), and Hertford 4s won 67-26 against Datchworth. Debutant match reporter Jonny Hollis has done an excellent write up for the Termites.

Team: Basra, Jones (c), Bloomer, Melton, Swift, Banna, Fry, Tracy; Hale, Lemon, Sutherland, Rudling, Gilchrist, Kay, Jackson
Subs: Bovaird, Galvin, Little
Tries: Rudling, Gilchrist, Banna
Conversions: Lemon x3
Penalties: Lemon x 4
Man of the match: Jones
Sponsors: Duffield Harrison LLP
Photographer: Billy Windsock

Finally, I’m sure all at Hertford will send their best wishes to the Letch worth centre, our old friend and ex Hertford favourite Charlie Parkhouse, who left the field with what may have been a detached clavicle. Get well soon Charlie.