London League One

Match Report

Letchworth Garden City 22 Bury St Edmunds 32

High flying Legends came back to earth with a loud bump on Saturday as they effectively gifted a game that could have been in the bag at half time to a lively Bury St Edmunds squad.

The first quarter was all Letchworth but Bury repulsed the early attacks despite Cottenden going close and Hughes missing a penalty out wide. Eventually the home side were rewarded as the pack rumbled over for a try scored by Del Isikeli. Flexman struck back with a penalty but Letchworth went ahead 10-3 with another Isikeli try after Streets had been foiled yards from the line.

However the visitors now enjoyed a purple patch as Letchworth had lost fly half Brown for a late first half indiscretion. The visitors changed shirts from gold to their more familiar green strip and this certainly seemed to benefit them. Firstly the burly Mann bundled over and then Flexman was put into space to make it 13-10 to the visitors. The game was evenly balanced as Legends charged forward to get the next score. However Burys’ defence stood firm and spilled balls became the order of the day.

Then disaster struck as Browns’ chip ahead was charged down by Krammer who ran nearly seventy yards to score a seven point intercept try. Letchworth then butchered two golden opportunities and despite Joe Shaws bullocking runs could not find a way through. Bury counterattacked and a fine move saw Mann claim his hat trick.

Tirrell and Johal were now introduced into the fray and Bury lost two key players. Flexman for a silly push and Young for a high tackle. Against thirteen men the home side struck back twice as they threw everything at the visitors. Tirrell scored a trade mark try and then Cottenden went over with two minutes remaining. At 22-25 there was still time for Letchworth but a ghastly mistake at the restart saw the ball fall kindly for Krammer. He kicked through and won the race to touch down and seal the game for Bury. Watching all this activity was ex Legend Mike Reeves, now looking more like a prop than a centre as he remained an unused replacement for the visitors. Another tough one next week as Legends hit the road to Bury’s near neighbours Diss.