Stags 45 - 7 Market Rasen

Hinckley hosted Market Rasen on the old first XV pitch in extremely soggy conditions.

Another raft of changes in personnel with Henry Higginson, Andrew Weaver, Archie Heard and Adam Collingwood all making their Stags debuts. Dylan Weddle, Morgan Tunnicliffe, Will Spiers and Shaun Hubbard returned to the starting line-up. However, the changes didn’t affect the home team as they got off to a quick start and dominated the opening proceedings. Probing kicks from fly-half Heard, whether from penalties or open play, put the Stags on the front foot throughout the first half.

The opening try came from player-coach Steve Harvey, his first of the season, and this was added to when Lewis Gardner sniped around the blindside after a dominant scrummage. Shaun Hubbard then pounced on a Market Rasen handling error to sprint in unopposed from 30 metres. The ever-reliable Jacob Drabble added a further try before half-time with Gardner slotting two conversions for a 24-0 lead, and try-scoring bonus point, with 35 minutes gone. Tyler Moseley scored the best try of the game after quick hands put him free to run around his opposite number and beat the cover defence. Nearly as good as his try at Loughborough. Gardner converted to take a 31 - 0 lead into half time. Apart from kick offs after the Stags had scored MR&L never got out of their own half such was the physicality of the Stags defence forcing numerous errors and turnovers.

In contrast the second half was a disappointment as the away side scored a breakaway try, which was converted, and then missed a kickable penalty almost immediately from the restart as the Stags had collectively switched off.

Hinckley “huffed and puffed” throughout this period of the game and although had plenty of chances either took the wrong option or spilled the ball in the greasy conditions. By their standards a poor return for the amount of possession wasted. However, MR&L still couldn’t get out of their half as the miserly Stags defence thwarted any progress in the midfield arm wrestle. It wasn’t until late in the game that Moseley added his second try and Joe Barnes stormed over to cap a good display as he dominated line out possession throughout. Gardner converted both tries to take the final score to 45 - 7 in favour of the Stags.

A professional first-half performance ultimately settled the tie before half-time, but the Stags need to raise their second half performance in future games. Too many points were left out on the field today as we collectively switched off.

MOTM: Henry Higginson on his Stags debut - excellent defence and ball-carrying throughout.

UTS