Letchworth GC 13 Tabard 27 Fifteen minutes of lapsed concentration cost Letchworth dearly at home to their former National League opponents. They leaked 21 points without reply but for much of the rest of this match, Letchworth dominated possession and te

Letchworth GC 13 Tabard 27

Fifteen minutes of lapsed concentration cost Letchworth dearly at home to their former National League opponents.

They leaked 21 points without reply but for much of the rest of this match, Letchworth dominated possession and territory.

It is points that make prizes though and failure to convert pressure into scores will need to be addressed.

Tabard played with the elements, both sides working hard with an early exchange of penalties.

There were few signs of the points onslaught to come until Tabard's full- back carved through the midfield with worrying ease. A number of dummies were sold and bought on his way to a try by the posts.

Conspiracy theorists began to huddle together at the next score.

A wayward pass rolled and bobbled along the floor, by-passing attackers and defenders. Seemingly gathering pace, it kindly sat up for Tabard's openside flanker who was making his way back from a previous maul. He will have few easier scores.

Letchworth were all at sea now. Andy Atkinson killed the next attack, earning a yellow card for his efforts, but Tabs ignored the overlap, driving over from a lineout for the next score.

Remarkably, the ascendancy switched in an instance.

Letchworth pressed hard with Kris Cottenden twice stopped inches short from the line.

The finish was just not there, often just overcooking the play to concede penalties. Gavin Donald kicked a goal to claw back three points.

Tabard extended their lead just after half time with a well-taken penalty but after that, it was all Letchworth pressure.

The midfield looked unbalanced and the chance of a score began to look remote.

An inspired substitution remedied the situation. Alex Firth slotted in at scrum-half, with Luke Starr moving to centre.

With the extra yard of Firth's pass and Starr's pace, there was a new sense of purpose. It was all too late but the promise came to fruition when Starr fielded a wayward kick and ran it back for a score.