In their first outing for over a month, a rejuvenated Hornets blew away their West country opponents in a devastating opening twenty minutes which saw Hinckley run in four tries without reply, effectively ending the match as a contest. It was Hinckley at their best. Hornets did run in two more excellent tries at the end of the first half and in the opening minute of the second, but, with the match over and Hinckley 38 points to the good, the final thirty minutes did deteriorate into something of an anti-climax.

Barnstaple managed a consolation score towards the end of the game but it was a rather fortunate affair when scrum half Cameron Johnson pounced on a dropped Hinckley pass 30m out and ran in unopposed to score. Other than that, the Hornet’s defence was excellent and Barnstaple rarely threatened throughout the match. Recent recruits Archie Heard and Joseph Gaffan both impressed with Gaffan claiming two tries, and Issac Norton, in his first outing for the first team, also looked a real asset when he came on early in the second half.
Some may suggest that, against opponents struggling at the bottom end of the division, the result was highly predictable but Barnstaple are no mugs. Less than nine months ago Barum defeated Hornets at Pottington Road and they came into this game off two straight wins before the Christmas break. The reality is that Hinckley’s performance, particularly in the first half, was one of the best the Leicester Road faithful have witnessed for some time and a real statement of intent which has undoubtedly established them as one of the division’s heavyweights after the trauma of last season. What a difference a year makes!

DOR Chris Campbell could not have been happier after the game. ‘I was delighted with elements of our attacking game, which is crucial if we want to be regarded as one of top five in the league. We scored some tries we wouldn’t have scored earlier in the season and all our attention is now on putting in a big effort at Redruth next weekend.’

‘It was a composed performance from Archie Heard on his debut at fly half and, with the game secured by half time, it gave us an opportunity to manage the game time of some players which will proof beneficial in future games.’

‘I would have liked to have pushed on and scored more in the second half but Barnstaple held us well with the wind and rain against us. That said, overall it was a very good job done having not played for a month’
It couldn’t have started any better for Hornets. Barnstaple knocked on from the kick-off giving Hornets a scrum 20m out. The Hornets pack got the drive on in the scrum to win a penalty but, playing the advantage, the ball found it’s way to Heard who put in a delightful chip to Luke Hibberd in space to give the wingman an easy stroll in for the try. When Joe Wilson converted from out wide, Hornets were 7-0 up after only three minutes.

Seven became fourteen three minutes later when Pointon sent the ball left from a line-out inside the Barum half and excellent work in midfield opened up a gap for Frankie Sleightholme to accept an offload from Hibberd to crash through for the score. Wilson again converted.
Hornets then pounced on a loose ball around 30m out from the Barnstaple line and Alex Salt eventually produced a delightful offload to Sam Everett who shrugged off two tacklers to make the line.

Ben Pointon was next to get in on the act. The pack went close from a 10m penalty line-out but dropped the ball in the drive to give Barnstaple a scrum 5m from their line. That became a Hinckley scrum when the referee awarded a free kick to the Leicester Road men and the Hinckley eight drove their opposite numbers to the line and Pointon dropped on the ball as it came out at the back of the scrum. Wilson added his third conversion and, at 26-0, the bonus point and probably the game was won after just nineteen minutes.

Barnstaple did manage to break the Hinckley stranglehold briefly to create an opportunity with a penalty line-out 10m from Hinckley’s line but a steal by Jack Ramshaw ended the threat.

Hornets were soon back in the Barum 22m but a near certain try was denied when a stupid bit of back chat to the referee resulted in a penalty award to Barnstaple with the line open. It was the only blemish on an outstanding performance to that point.

A few minutes later, Wilson set up another attacking line-out 10m out with a penalty from halfway. Ramshaw took the ball and drove to 3m, the ball was released but a deliberate knock-on by Barnstaple scrum half Cameron Johnson denied Hornets the score. Johnson was carded but was fortunate the colour was not red and it was a penalty not a penalty try.

As the half was drawing to a close, Heard put in superb 50:22 kick from his own 10m line to give Hornets an attacking line-out 10m from the Barum line. Andy Weaver took the catch, the pack drove on and Gaffan got the touchdown. Wilson could not make the conversion but Hornets went in for the break immediately afterwards 31-0 in front.

There was to be no relief for Barnstaple though on the return. Hornets fielded the kick-off, Bower broke out of the 22m and Pointon , Lamb, then Everett took the ball into the Barum 22m and Gaffan took the final pass to go over for his second try in as many minutes. Wilson converted. It was a devastating blow for the Barum.

In truth, the rest of the game was distinctly forgettable. A procession of replacements broke the momentum for Hornets, the wind and rain induced numerous errors on both sides and Barnstaple dug deep to deny Hornets any further score but without seriously threatening the Hinckley line. The two packs seemed incapable of completing a scrum to the referee’s satisfaction and the whole affair was becoming a little tedious towards the end of the afternoon. There was little in the way of excitement for either team, other than Johnson’s opportunist try for Barnstaple, despite some rather frenetic play in the last fifteen as Barum tried desperately to take something from a dismal afternoon for them. When the referee blew for time, no-one was too upset.

In the end, you had to feel for Barnstaple. They will play much worse games and come out with a win but on Saturday they were against a Hinckley side on top of their game and who put in perhaps their best performance this season. Let us hope they can repeat that on the long trip to Redruth next week.

Nick Robinson