Letchworth GC 13 Tring 20 Letchworth gave the league leaders a tough examination at Baldock Road before finally admitting defeat. The visitors put pragmatism before their natural flair to earn another two points. More disruptive to the style of play was t

Letchworth GC 13 Tring 20

Letchworth gave the league leaders a tough examination at Baldock Road before finally admitting defeat.

The visitors put pragmatism before their natural flair to earn another two points.

More disruptive to the style of play was the constant flow of penalties from the normally sympathetic Craig Wilson on the whistle.

Neither side really got to grips with his demands, Letchworth failing more so than the visitors and at times losing the discipline so vital to success.

Matters started brightly for the home side, with Jaggi Johal fielding the kick off and driving back at Tring with some venom. His work was aided and abetted by Giles Cooke who had a good afternoon.

The onslaught induced a penalty which Gavin Donald converted for an early lead.

The opening scrum saw Letchworth drive Tring off the ball, only to be penalised, the first of many.

Indeed the turnover was to be the first of many, as both sides handed up possession at regular intervals.

This was accompanied by excellent offloads from forwards and backs alike as the teams probed to find gaps.

Donald used the elements well and Tring's dangerous back three were well marshalled by the chasers.

Having weathered a spell of pressure, Letchworth attacked back.

They were stung by pressure defence, as a midfield pass was knocked on under pressure, and it sat up for Tring's winger who had a clear run in to the line.

The game stuttered to the sound of the whistle. Tring extended their lead with a penalty, Peter Sterienberg's keenness earned him a yellow card and Henry Robinson's bravery saw him upended in mid air as he soared to take a high ball.

It looked ominous for Letchworth at the break, with Tring having the advantage of the elements in the second half.

Logic was overturned after an unlucky start, as Letchworth were called back 50m from a promising attack to be awarded a scrum.

Ryan de la Harpe was causing the visitors' defence some concern and a head high tackle on him earned a yellow for the perpetrator.

Letchworth pressed on to score from a lineout and drive, Johal adjudged to have grounded the ball.

Tring responded with another penalty, but were hampered again as Robinson was taken out head high.

Despite having the extra man, Letchworth struggled to get away from their line.

Every time they played upfield, another penalty was given and Tring kicked back to the corner.

The defence looked sound until another turnover went kindly for the visitors.

The ball squirted out the side of a ruck and into the hands of a Tring player lurking suspiciously in a possibly offside position.

Wisely, he did not hang around to find out, breaking blind and feeding his back row colleague who went over unopposed.

Letchworth showed good spirit to stage a bright fightback as quick play took them into opposition territory.

A penalty taken quickly by de la Harpe was fed to his back row mates who bludgeoned their way over for a try, Johal again emerging from the bottom of the pile with the ball.

They needed one more try to level and came straight back from the kick off and made good ground until the piercing sound of that whistle again.

A penalty was awarded to Tring who cleared their lines and the match was over.

Letchworth travel to Woodford this Saturday for another tough encounter with a side who have turned performances around since Christmas.