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Sun 09 Oct 2016
U16s -Sch year 11Market Harborough RFC
Tries: b drakeford (2), S Piela (2), J Burton
25
5
Tries: Unknown
Market Harborough, Man Handled by Hinckley
Paul Goodwin9 Oct 2016 - 21:14
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Market Harborough's large squad was no match for a determined Hinckley side.
Hinckley fielded a strong team against their nemisis of recent years, Market Harborough, on a bright early October morning . Market Harborough also brought a full strength squad, including their very own water marshall (according to his bib).
Kicking off into a stiff breeze, Hinckley took the game to Harborough, who proved solid in defence with some physical tackling and early turnovers at the breakdown. Hinckley were equally firm defensively in the early stages with some excellent ball ripping in the tackle by Hurley-Smith and Buckler.
Hinckley soon capitalised on their territorial advantage. Following another turnover at a ruck just inside the Harborough half, Drakeford fly-kicked the ball behind the Harborough defence followed by another superbly weighted kick to score the first try of the game; Hinckley 5–0 Market Harborough.
Harborough responded well and, after catching the ball from the re-start, sent the ball wide with some lovely handling only to be held up five metres short of the try line. Hinckley’s defence held out with several crunching tackles, eventually regaining possession after Buckler bundled a Harborough player into touch. Hinckley’s second try came from the resulting line-out. Powerful ball carrying by Burton and Goodwin took Hinckley deep into the opposition half and, from a ruck five metres out, Drakeford darted over for his second try of the day to take Hinckley into a 10-0 lead.
Harborough came straight back at Hinckley again, who conceded a couple of penalties in their own half for going over the top in the ruck and, after sending the ball wide, Harborough took advantage of a lapse in Hinckley’s defence to score a try and reduce the deficit to 10-5.
As the game approached half-time both teams were showing signs of fatigue with several handling errors and balls lost in the tackle. After a Hinckley turnover within their own half Hurley-Smith danced his way towards the Harborough line only to be tackled ten metres out.
Half time came to the relief of both teams after a frantic and physical first 25 minutes. Several of the players appeared to have tight muscles and even the referee was spotted stretching one off during the break. Coach Barnes delivered yet another inspirational (although unrepeatable) team talk and with some of the replacements taking the field the second half began.
In a repeat of the first half, Hinckley started well putting pressure on the Harborough defence and forcing them deep into their own territory. Harborough again held firm as Hinckley forced a scrum ten metres out from which the ball moved through all Hinckleys’ backs hands to find Piela on the wing who majestically rounded his opposite number to score in the corner, extending Hinckley’s lead to 15-5.
Harborough were determined once again from the re-start applying more pressure on the Hinckley defence which continued to frustrate the visitors. Both sides contested the ball ferociously at the breakdown, Burton making a great steal at the ruck and surging forward to set up a Hinckley attack on the halfway line. After another solid ruck the ball was again passed through the Hinckley backs’ hands to Piela who repeated his earlier effort seeing off the flailing Harborough defence to score his second try in the same corner. Hinckley 20-5 Harborough.
As the game entered the final few minutes Harborough had no answer to Hinckley’s relentless physical defence. Another turnover by Hinckley was followed by several good phases of play, taking Hinckley deep into the Harborough half, the ball ending up with Burton who powered through to score Hinckley’s fifth try and put the game out of reach at 25-5.
Hinckley were now totally dominant and from a superb turnover by Hutton the ball was again sent wide to Piela who was just denied his hat-trick after being tackled into touch five metres short. Harborough responded from the line-out with a final attack and looked like they were going over for a second try until Buckler put in a try-saving tackle to end an extremely physical and entertaining game. The final score Hinckley 25-5 Market Harborough.
By Andy Duggins
Kicking off into a stiff breeze, Hinckley took the game to Harborough, who proved solid in defence with some physical tackling and early turnovers at the breakdown. Hinckley were equally firm defensively in the early stages with some excellent ball ripping in the tackle by Hurley-Smith and Buckler.
Hinckley soon capitalised on their territorial advantage. Following another turnover at a ruck just inside the Harborough half, Drakeford fly-kicked the ball behind the Harborough defence followed by another superbly weighted kick to score the first try of the game; Hinckley 5–0 Market Harborough.
Harborough responded well and, after catching the ball from the re-start, sent the ball wide with some lovely handling only to be held up five metres short of the try line. Hinckley’s defence held out with several crunching tackles, eventually regaining possession after Buckler bundled a Harborough player into touch. Hinckley’s second try came from the resulting line-out. Powerful ball carrying by Burton and Goodwin took Hinckley deep into the opposition half and, from a ruck five metres out, Drakeford darted over for his second try of the day to take Hinckley into a 10-0 lead.
Harborough came straight back at Hinckley again, who conceded a couple of penalties in their own half for going over the top in the ruck and, after sending the ball wide, Harborough took advantage of a lapse in Hinckley’s defence to score a try and reduce the deficit to 10-5.
As the game approached half-time both teams were showing signs of fatigue with several handling errors and balls lost in the tackle. After a Hinckley turnover within their own half Hurley-Smith danced his way towards the Harborough line only to be tackled ten metres out.
Half time came to the relief of both teams after a frantic and physical first 25 minutes. Several of the players appeared to have tight muscles and even the referee was spotted stretching one off during the break. Coach Barnes delivered yet another inspirational (although unrepeatable) team talk and with some of the replacements taking the field the second half began.
In a repeat of the first half, Hinckley started well putting pressure on the Harborough defence and forcing them deep into their own territory. Harborough again held firm as Hinckley forced a scrum ten metres out from which the ball moved through all Hinckleys’ backs hands to find Piela on the wing who majestically rounded his opposite number to score in the corner, extending Hinckley’s lead to 15-5.
Harborough were determined once again from the re-start applying more pressure on the Hinckley defence which continued to frustrate the visitors. Both sides contested the ball ferociously at the breakdown, Burton making a great steal at the ruck and surging forward to set up a Hinckley attack on the halfway line. After another solid ruck the ball was again passed through the Hinckley backs’ hands to Piela who repeated his earlier effort seeing off the flailing Harborough defence to score his second try in the same corner. Hinckley 20-5 Harborough.
As the game entered the final few minutes Harborough had no answer to Hinckley’s relentless physical defence. Another turnover by Hinckley was followed by several good phases of play, taking Hinckley deep into the Harborough half, the ball ending up with Burton who powered through to score Hinckley’s fifth try and put the game out of reach at 25-5.
Hinckley were now totally dominant and from a superb turnover by Hutton the ball was again sent wide to Piela who was just denied his hat-trick after being tackled into touch five metres short. Harborough responded from the line-out with a final attack and looked like they were going over for a second try until Buckler put in a try-saving tackle to end an extremely physical and entertaining game. The final score Hinckley 25-5 Market Harborough.
By Andy Duggins
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