Letchworth achieved a significant milestone with victory over Ipswich - not only keeping them top of Regional Two Anglia but making it a full calendar year without a defeat.

The last reverse came on November 13 last year when Old Streetonians recorded a 42-39 success on Hackney Marshes.

And despite a valiant attempt by their lowly Suffolk hosts, second from bottom at start of play, this was never going to be anything other than a home win, secured by 42-8.

 

Mind, it was the home side who drew first blood with a penalty but after some good phase play by the Legends, Tom Lewis barrelled over near the post with Ben Palmer converting.

Minutes later they had their second converted score, Will Titherington with the great line, but Ipswich responded and after a penalty had hit the post, they bagged a try in the corner.

They had the best of the remainder of the half but there was no further score and Letchworth turned round 14-8 in front.

That wasn't good enough though for the leaders and grim faces were seen at the break.

 

Initially this seemed to have little effect as Ipswich gave the league leaders more of the same for the first 10 minutes.

Again though they were unable to cross the whitewash and even missed another penalty.

And that let off finally stirred Letchworth into action and Kyle Hughes' introduction put them on the front foot.

Lewis added his second with a similar effort and this time there wasn't an answer from the tiring home squad.

James Buchanan got a debut try, Palmer clinically adding the conversion, and he did so again when skipper Liam Fitts took a great line-out ball near the Ipswich line and went over for a fine score under the sticks.

There was time for one last try and it was a beauty as Kieron Davies. on for Harvey Howman at scrum-half, darted away with a 40-metre break.

He was stopped short but Fitts was in support to grab his second.

The kicking duties went to youngster Hugo Lennie who added the points and sealed the 12-month streak.

The Comet: Hitchin's Jack Silbey is stopped by two Finchley defenders. Picture: MARTIN WIGGINSHitchin's Jack Silbey is stopped by two Finchley defenders. Picture: MARTIN WIGGINS (Image: Martin Wiggins)

Hitchin were narrowly beaten away at Finchley in Counties One Herts Middlesex, but they did at least earn two bonus points to close the gap on fifth-placed Welwyn above them.

They went down 27-24 but the losing gap as well as four tries means they are now level on points with their near neighbours.

They scored first when Finchley were down a man for a deliberate knock-on, Hitchin using the space to go wide and put Jack Maydom in.

A penalty and unconverted try of their own gave the home side the lead but they were to lose it when Phil Ryan intercepted 30 metres from his own line and galloped the length of the field.

Ben Wiggins converted that for a 12-8 advantage but there was to be another two home scores before the break, one converted, one not, giving them a 20-12 advantage.

Seven points early in the second half seemed to have sealed the contest but Hitchin responded and after Wiggins was adjudged to have been held up, Ryan did score with the extras added.

Dan Wiggins bagged five more points with three minutes to go but there was to be no final drama.