As we enter the New Year, Hornets are standing proud at the top of National 2 North some 4 points clear of Sale in second place. Who amongst us would not have taken that at the start of the season?

The next few weeks could, however, make or break Hinckley’s season. The next five fixtures include pre-season title favourites Sale and Sedgley Park at home with local derbies away to South Leicester and Leicester Lions. Sandwiched between is a visit to Abbeydale Park to face a dangerous Sheffield Tigers outfit who won the corresponding fixture last season. After that, the run in looks a little more comfortable. Should the Hornets still be challenging in mid February, then there is every possibility that promotion will become a reality.

One step at a time though. Saturday’s opponents, Leicester Lions, smashed the Hornets 49-12 in the corresponding match last season in what was arguably Hinckley’s poorest performance of the season.

A strong finish to the season carried Lions into third position in the division and they were one of the few sides to complete the double over the Hornets on the way.

They did not start well this time out and found themselves in relegation territory at one stage. In the reverse fixture earlier in the season, the Hornets edged a dramatic game 37-34 when a faultless kicking display by Joe Wilson proved the deciding factor, despite the Lions outscoring Hinckley 6 tries to 4. Since that time they have gradually climbed the table and currently lie seventh on 40 points. While unlikely to emulate last seasons finish, they would still be considered by most as one of the stronger teams in the division and present a significant obstacle to Hinckley’s ambitions, particularly bearing in mind the local bragging rights that are at stake.

Their recent form has been somewhat patchy, defeating both Blaydon and Sheffield Tigers but losing to Sheffield and Huddersfield. In their last outing they forced a 25-25 draw away to local rivals South Leicester in a game which had all the ferocity you’d expect from a local derby. Once more, Ricky Aley kicked a late penalty to grab a share of the points for South.

Curiously, Lions’ home form this season has not matched their away record. They have won only 3 out of eight at home, while taking the spoils 4 times away drawing once and losing 3m - something perhaps to encourage the Hinckley boys.

Nick Robinson