Hinckley travelled to Coventry to take on Barkers Butts RFC and the score line may suggest this was another comfortable win for Hinckley U14s but, until the last quarter, this was arguably the toughest test of the season so far.
Hinckley, in their changed blue and red kit, scored the opening try in the first 30 seconds, as the opposition fumbled the ball from a long kick-off and Jacques was on hand to pick up and crash over from 10 yards out. Drakeford slotted a huge conversion from wide to give Hinckley a very early 7-0 lead.

Barkers Butts responded immediately following the re-start, winning a scrum against the head on Hinckley’s 22m line from which their centre took advantage of a half-asleep Hinckley defence to run in their first try. This was then converted to equal the score at 7-7.
Hinckley counter-attacked after the game re-commenced, forcing a turnover from a crunching Allen tackle in midfield. Hinckley retained possession and shipped the ball back to Allen who made good ground before passing to Jacques in support who powered over the line for his second try. The conversion fell short but Hinckley had regained the lead at 12-7.

Barkers Butts counter-attacked from the scrum but were again turned over following solid tackles from Miller and Buckler. Hinckley took the game back into the Butts half with notable runs from Moore, Jacques, Fountaine and Toon who crashed his way through but was tackled on the opposition’s try line. Jacques was on hand to pick up from the ensuing ruck and dive over for his hat-trick. Drakeford was successful with the conversion and Hinckley’s lead was extended to 19-7.

Barkers Butts launched another attack from a scrum as the game re-commenced but Hinckley’s dogged defence held firm with notable tackles from Drakeford, Fountaine, Moore, Hurley-Smith, Allen, Duggins, Toon and Buckler. The half-time whistle ended a somewhat “stop-start” first half, Hinckley with a slightly ‘uncomfortable’ 19-7 lead.

Barkers Butts kicked off the second half and forced an early scrum 5m from Hinckley’s try-line, from which their number eight gathered the ball and broke through to reduce the deficit to 19-12, as the conversion was missed.

The match continued to be very physical and evenly contested, the Butts using their big runners to make ground but Hinckley remained defiant in defence, Fountaine putting in a huge tackle (on a player twice his size) and forcing a turnover. Hinckley counter-attacked through breaks from Drakeford, Hurley-Smith and Jacques, who had Allen in support to take the final pass and score Hinckley’s first try of the second half. Drakeford converted to increase Hinckley’s lead to 26-12.

Barkers Butts were not giving up just yet and scored their third try shortly after the game re-commenced as the referee awarded a penalty for an alleged late tackle. The conversion was good, reducing Hinckley’s lead to 26-19.

Hinckley started to play the final quarter with the same intensity that had won them their previous eight games. Jacques caught Drakeford’s perfectly weighted re-start at pace and powered through the flailing Butts defence to score his fourth try of the match. Drakeford’s conversion split the uprights, increasing Hinckley’s advantage to 33-19.

Further tries from Smith, Jacques and Allen ended the match Barkers Butts 19-54 Hinckley.
Hinckley U14s notched up their ninth win from nine games.