A brace of tries from Mitch Lamb, and one each from Sam Everett and Ben Pointon secured Hinckley a bonus point victory against League ‘new boys’ Hornets RFC (hometown Weston-Super-Mare) and extended their unbeaten run to six games. The victory lifted them to third position in the league, just four points behind leaders Leicester Lions.
Those are the bare facts but the headline winning victory belies the fact that this was perhaps the poorest performance that Hinckley have turned in this season. It was a match they should have won comfortably, but one that that was strewn with errors and wasted opportunities throughout. This was compounded by an unhealthily high penalty, an issue which needs to be addressed as a matter of priority. Bar a five minute aberration at the start of the second half, Hinckley defended well but their wastefulness in possession was an immensely frustrating experience for the home support and there seems little doubt that if there is not a significant improvement in their game next week at Clifton (one of the early season favourites for promotion), their unbeaten run will come to a crashing end.
‘You could argue that luck was against us in the first half, but it would be difficult to say that about the second,’ commented DOR Chris Campbell after the match. We started that badly, our decision making wasn’t good, and there were far too many errors, particularly in the opposition 22m where we have been so much more clinical in our recent games. We can’t be pleased with our performance today but we did get the win and a bonus point, and that cannot be sneezed at. Good teams do win when they don’t perform at their best, and that was us today. With Clifton losing today though, it will certainly spice up our game there next week.’
Hinckley did start well, as has been the custom in recent games. Joe Wilson looked to be in at the corner after only two minutes before being pulled up for a forward pass, but it was only a couple of minutes later that a long, floated pass from Mitch Lamb out to Sam Everett standing unmarked out wide saw the wing man with an easy run-in for the score.
Vowles couldn’t convert but Hinckley dominated proceeding for the next ten minutes so it was something of a surprise when the seasiders notched the next score to take the lead. Hinckley had to defend a penalty line-out 5m from their own line but won a penalty and the threat seemed to be over. But a thumping kick from Joe Wilson would not roll into touch and ran dead at the other end, leaving Hinckley with a scrum to defend 5m from their own line. They could not hold out and the seasiders full back Charlie Carter squeezed over for the try, which he then converted.
Hinckley though were still in the ascendant but were plagued by unforced errors. Harry Bower dropped one clear opportunity as he was about to cross for the score, and a couple of line-out opportunities were also flunked. It was not until the 28th minute that Mitch Lamb was able to barrel his way over after some great approach play had carried the ball from halfway, and this time Vowles hit the mark with the conversion for a 12-7 lead.
Arguably, the critical moment of the half though came with time drawing to a close. Henry Povoas, looking to capitalise on some aggressive defence from Hinckley deep in the seasiders 22m, flattened their fly half Start Heal but was adjudged late and yellow carded for his pains.
Initially, Hinckley seemed to shrug off going down to fourteen. Indeed, they added to their lead on the cusp of half-time. The pack drove to within 10m from a lineout on the seasiders 22m, Ben Pointon popped a lovely reverse pass to Wilson who was brought down within touching distance but was able to pop up a pass to Lamb who came through the traffic to touch down. Vowles converted and all was forgiven as Hinckley went in 19-7 up at the break.
On the return though, it turned ugly for Hinckley. After a great run by Everett out of his 22m from the kick-off, a speculative chip from Vowles was collected by the seasiders who ran the ball back through a disrupted defence for centre Conor Vickery to score out wide … 19-12.
Three minutes later and the seasiders were level. A superb 50-22 kick gave Hornets a line-out 10m from the Hinckley line. Still with a man short, Hinckley could not hold out and flanker Oscar Browne eventually forced his way over, with Carter converting.
To their credit, it did not take Hinckley long to regain the lead a minute or so later after Povoas had returned. A Hinckley penalty just inside the seasiders half was kicked to within 10m, the line-out was secured and Ben Pointon was able to spin off the back of a ruck to touch down.
Vowles could not convert leaving the score at 24-19 with more than half an hour to go.
Almost unbelievably though, that was the end of the scoring. Hinckley defended resolutely when they had to for the next thirty minutes but, in possession, error compounded error as several clear-cut chances went begging. As the frustration of the home support built, so that frustration seemed to transmit itself to the players on the field, and the best laid plans just wouldn’t click into place.
Fortunately for Hinckley, the seasiders could not take advantage and, when Wilson launched the ball over the club house with the clock having gone red, there was an almost palpable sense of collective relief that Hinckley had not, in the end, let the result slip away.
They all count though and it will be the final score that everyone will remember next week as Hinckley face what is likely to be their biggest challenge to date this season at Clifton.