Hinckley 1st XV entertained National two side Leicester Lions in the final pre season game before the league opener versus Scunthorpe.

Players and supporters alike paid tribute to Rob Walton with a minutes silence before the game.

Rob Bryant replaced Mitch Culpin from the initial selection in a strong home side otherwise only missing Luke Coltman and Ben Avent. The game started with a bang for Hinckley as from the kick off receive the home side attacked in style. Fast midfield hands moved the ball left to Sam Greasley who burst through several defending tackles to offload to the supporting Mitch Lamb who touched down. Mark Lord added the conversion.
Hinckley were off and running really before the visitors had touched the ball!
The game settled down with both sides probing for an opening while Hinckley were strong in defence to stifle any Lions attacking ambitions - first up tackling was impressive. From a midfield turnover by captain Alex Salt centre Rob Bryant scored Hinckley’s second try again converted by Lord to take a 14-0 lead into half time. Yellow cards for Joe Glover and Lions Jon Boden during the half indicated the competitive nature of the game.

Continued forward pressure early in the second half resulted in a try for Huw Marsden although Lord couldn’t convert from wide out. He did, however, convert a penalty on the hour for a Hinckley 22-0 lead. As you would expect Lions were stung into action and laid siege to the Hinckley line and after a series of penalties, referee Greg Garner awarded Lions a penalty try routinely converted by Boden to reduce the home side’s lead to 22-7. Further pressure by Lions and good Hinckley defence followed although Lions broke out of defence twice and really should have scored long range tries, but lacked support for the crucial last pass. They did, however, get over the Hinckley line late in the game having reverted to forward power. Boden converting for a final score of Hinckley 22 points Leicester Lions 14 points.

Certainly a very competitive test for Hinckley which they came through with flying colours. The line out went well and it was good test in the scrummage area in the second half Lions surge.The back row combination of Tom Morris, Alex Salt, Matt Fearn and Huw Marsden lead by example and dominated the breakdown, hoovering up loose ball on the floor and wanting it more than their Lions counterparts. Collective defence was excellent throughout especially wide out with Sam Driver, Sam Greasley, Josh Smith and Callum Dacey stuffing out Lions attacks especially from the dangerous Devon Constant.

Scunthorpe come to Leicester Road next week kick off 3pm for the first league game of the new season.