After the last minute heartbreak last Saturday against Sedgley Park, Hornets need to get back to winning ways this Saturday when they visit Dore Moor to take on Sheffield Tigers. Last week’s defeat saw Hinckley slip into second place behind title favourites Sale who visit Leicester Road on Jan 27 in what is shaping up to be a season defining match for both sides. Sale lead the table only on points difference with Stourbridge, also with a game in hand, 2 points behind. Sedgley are in fourth after Saturday’s win with Tynedale in fifth seven points adrift but with 2 games in hand. It couldn’t be much tighter!

Sheffield Tigers are currently in ninth place in the division on 40 points, well behind the leaders but comfortably ahead of the relegation battle. Having just missed the drop last year in their first season in the Division, they appear to be heading for a respectable mid-table finish in what could be described as a season of consolidation.

That said, Tigers have struggled recently having lost their last 7 games, a run they will be desperate to end on Saturday. Last time out they went down to South Leicester at Welford Road in what proved to be a kicking duel.

Earlier in the season, Hornets demolished the Tigers with an eight try 56-7 victory in one of their most entertaining performances of the season. It was a similar story last season when Hinckley ran out 47-24 victors at Leicester Road but then Tigers avenged that defeat at Dore Moor with a 27-22 victory to emphasise that they are not a side to be underestimated. In wings Jamie Broadley (18 tries) and Henri Packard (13 tries), Tigers boast two of the highest scorers in the division (Hornets top try score is captain Alex Salt with 12) and are a very capable side when moving the ball.

DOR George Chuter commented, ‘Despite recent results, Tigers are a good team at home, and were very tough to play against at our place earlier in the season. We will need to be at our best if we have any chance of bouncing back from last weeks defeat.’

News from the bench is good. Joe Glover has recovered from the knock he picked up at Lions and should be available for selection. New signing Jonny Sykes, who recently joined Hinckley from Rotherham Titans, came off the bench last week and is available for selection again this week. Matt Fearne played 40 minutes for the Vets last week and is also close to being in the mix.

Dore Moor is one of the more attractive venues in the division to visit and the forecast for Saturday suggests that we can look forward to a sunny afternoon with light winds, although the temperature is likely to be more conducive to an extra pair of socks rather than shorts. If you would like to travel on the team coach, then please contact Steve Avent on 07801 284604 to book your place.

Nick Robinson