Hinckley U13s Couldn’t Kick Barkers’ Butts

A minute’s silence preceded the game on Remembrance Sunday at Barkers Butts’ ground. Hinckley started slowly with some initial sloppy play and poor handling which led to an early interception try to Barkers Butts.
Barkers Butts were the stronger team in the opening phases and also had the noisiest spectator, neither of which Hinckley could match. Hinckley did show some effective defending, Underwood notably putting in a couple of crunching tackles. Hinckley however gave away a penalty for handling in the ruck from which Barkers Butts quickly passed the ball out wide to score their second try in the corner.
Hinckley were also struggling in the scrum and from a turnover at the set piece, Barkers Butts scored their third try to take an early 15-0 lead. Hinckley finally began to exert some pressure, however, Barkers Butts plugged any gaps in their defence and Hinckley’s handling let them down when ever they created opportunities in their opposition’s half.
Hinckley eventually won a scrum which led to a good break by A. Whittingham, but he was tackled just short of the opposition line. Hinckley then enjoyed a better spell of territory and possession just before half time but still couldn’t break through.
Hinckley started with more urgency in the second half but unfortunately Barkers Butts turned over the ball from a Hinckley attack to score their fourth try of the game. Hinckley’s defence improved following the re-start and from a ruck on the halfway line Barnes stole the ball to gallop in for Hinckley’s first and only try of the game. Barkers Butts responded, though, with their scrum half making a clean break to be tackled just short of the line.
Hinckley’s pack started to get the better of Barkers Butts in the scrum from which Al-Salloum made a good break out wide but he was tackled five metres short of the try line. Barkers Butts responded with a good spell of territory in Hinckley’s half and sent the ball out wide again to score their fifth try in the corner. This was shortly followed by a similar passage of play and try number six, increasing Barkers Butts’ lead to 30-5.
Hinckley did not give up and continued to pressure Barkers Butts in the final few minutes of the game but couldn’t penetrate a solid Barkers Butts defence.
The final score – Barkers Butts 30-5 Hinckley.