Manor travelled to Letchworth this week expecting a warm reception at the pre-match lunch and a fiercely contested game on the pitch, they weren’t disappointed on either count.

Manor kicked off the game and were immediately on the back foot when the ball didn’t go the required 10 meters giving the hosts a scrum. From the put in Manor got the nudge on allowing Tryson Goodchild to turn the ball over winning the ball against the head, with turnover ball Manor attacked through the backs and when the ball moved to Nick Horton he kicked ahead into Letchworth’s 22 where he won the chase to the ball but was bundled into touch before he could offload to his support. Letchworth then used the lineout as a base to begin attacking Manor but they found it difficult as Manor tackled hard and contested fiercely at the breakdown. Eventually the home side worked their way close to Manors line but a great turnover at a ruck by Misiona Evagelia allowed Manor to clear the danger. 7 minutes had been played and neither side had been able to break the deadlock.

Letchworth continued to have the better of play and territory with most of the play inside Manors half. After a series of sustained attacks, Letchworth moved the ball along the line where their winger joined the attack, spotted a gap in the Manor defence and went over the line for the first score of the match. The conversion was missed but after 10 minutes of play Letchworth led 0- 5.

Letchworth kept up their attacking play but Manor defended well and the hosts did not look like breaking through again. Manor won a scrum just outside their 22, this allowed their backs to launch an attack when first Nick Sheppard broke through a tackle, he then fed Andrew Connors who broke three tackles in taking the ball to Manors 10 meter line, he then pass the ball to the fit again winger Ollie Phillips who from inside his own half stepped past his opposite number then set off along the touchline outpacing the covering defenders to go over the line for Manors first try Sheppard was successful with the conversion from out wide and after 14 minutes had taken the lead 7 -5.

From the restart Letchworth again attacked Manor but their efforts came to nothing when Horton put in a long touch kick that sent Letchworth back deep into their own territory. This seemed to spur on Manor and they upped the tempo with the forwards punching holes in Letchworth’s defensive line where both Garth Tucker and Jack Sullivan carried well. Connors and Sheppard again linked well and broke through tackles before Sullivan again took the ball on. A ruck was set up which drew the Letchworth defenders into the middle of the pitch. As the ball was moved out to Manors backline, Luigi Martelletti was left out wide on the wing with only his opposite winger marking him, this was spotted and a long pass found its mark and Martelletti rounded his man and sprinted home for Manors second try. This time the difficult conversion was missed but after 22 minutes Manor led 12 – 5.

In this end to end contest Letchworth immediately went on the attack and after a sustained period of attacking play forced their way over the line only for Connors and Martelletti to hold the player up giving the home side an attacking scrum. This only delayed the inevitable, with Letchworth pounding Manors line where their classy No7 was prominent, they eventually crossed the line for a well deserved try which, with the conversion brought the scores level at 12 -12 after 28 minutes.

Letchworth almost scored again directly from the kick off when they secured the ball then a lightening quick break from one of their forwards saw him outpace Manors defence as he ran 40 meters towards the try line and only a last ditch two man tackle from Horton and Phillips stopped what would have been a spectacular try and to make things better Manor were awarded a penalty for not releasing the ball.

The penalty was kicked to near the halfway, from the lineout Rory Moore won clean ball allowing Manor forwards to set up a fast moving rolling maul. With Manor making ground the maul was deliberately brought to the ground and the Letchworth No7 was given 10 minutes in the sin bin for his troubles. Again Manor kicked for touch and again set up a rolling maul which was heading towards the try line when the other Letchworth flanker cynically pulled the maul down, he too was sent to the bin and Manor now faced 13 men. Wanting to make their numerical advantage tell Manor opted for another lineout, this time Sullivan set the maul up and as it headed towards the line Goodchild peeled off the back and went over the line for Manors third try. With the extra points added Manor had retaken the lead 19-12 with only a few minutes of the half left to play.

From the re-start Manor secured the ball which allowed Horton to kick deep into Letchworth’s half, the chase was good with Martelletti harrying the ball carrier as Letchworth tried to run the ball back. Manor halted the charge and turned the ball over, this allowed Freddie Newbury to dart through a gap then send the ball spinning along his backline where centre Sheppard cut back inside and sprinted over the line to score Manors fourth, bonus point try. He converted the score himself and Manor took a comfortable 26-12 lead into halftime.

The second half began in very much the same way as the first half had, with Letchworth on the attack, they were awarded a kickable penalty which they turned down opting to kick for a lineout. Manor made a mess of the throw in winning a scrum which allowed them to clear the danger. Still the hosts pushed for another score and were again awarded a penalty. This time they took the kick at goal and reduced the deficit to 26-15 after 15 minutes of the second half.

Manor replied almost immediately from the kick off when Letchworth kicked deep into Manors half, here a counter attack was launched and with a combination of good kicking and aggressive play Manor found themselves just outside Letchworth’s 22. Here at a ruck Manor turned the ball over which allowed Newbury to dart through a gap brushing off two would be tacklers, he then raced towards the line but was stopped by a fine covering tackle. Manor forwards were quickly in support and with the ref playing a penalty advantage the ball was recycled to Damian Horton who barrelled his way to the line and although three defenders tried to stop him he had the strength to twist and ground the ball over the line. Sheppard was successful with the extra points taking Manors lead to 33-15 with 20 minutes of the second half played.

If Manor thought that the home side would now roll over and give up, they were seriously mistaken. Straight away Letchworth tried to hit back with their No7 again prominent in attack taking the ball 30 meters up field and into Manors 22 where it took an excellent tackle from Horton to stop a scoring opportunity, not only did he put the tackle in but he also won a penalty allowing Manor to clear the danger.

Manor were still an attacking force themselves and a slick move involving Newbury, substitute George Harman and Connors saw the ball moved out to Phillips on the wing. He again skinned his opposite number make 20 meters before being stopped a couple of meters short of the line, the ball was quickly recycled along the line but the final misplaced pass prevented Manor scoring again.

Letchworth were still playing with great heart and had the majority of possession and territory, forcing Manor to defend and this led to a number of penalties being given away. Eventually the pressure told when Letchworths No 8 went over for a try behind the posts, with the conversion successful the homeside had given themselves hope of a possible victory with the score at 22 - 33 with 15 minutes still left to play.

Still Letchworth tested their oppositions resolve and Manors defensive efforts were hindered by the issuing of two yellow cards in quick succession, one to Evagelia and one to Moore, both for infringements at the breakdown. Despite this Manors stretched defence held out, helped by some handling errors by Letchworth, and they managed to hold the hosts out for the remaining minutes of the game, most of which was played with 13 men on the field.

The final whistle sounded and both sides had given their all, Manor on the balance of things deserved their victory but Letchworth may feel somewhat aggrieved at not gaining some sort of reward for their efforts. Manor knew that the game would be difficult and so it proved but they had achieved their objective of gaining a bonus point victory at a ground that is always a difficult place to win at.

Next week Manor welcome Thurrock to the New Wilderness and know that they face yet another tough match from a team that sit one place higher than them in the league.