Lucs are downed by dogged Hornets

On a day when no-one could reasonably have expected to see any semblance of running rugby, Luctonians and Hinckley conspired to produce a thoroughly enthralling match that was in the balance right up to the final whistle. The pitch was sodden after heavy overnight rain, making the ground treacherous underfoot, and there was a howling gale blowing straight down the pitch which made kicking and even passing the ball something of a lottery. Both sides struggled to control the ball throughout. In short, it was a day when the bar seemed a much more attractive prospect than watching rugby from the touchline.

Nevertheless, given the limitations of the conditions, it was a match of some quality. Neither side was prepared to take a step backwards and the defensive organisation of the two teams was outstanding. There were too glimpses of the class that both teams have in their back divisions but in reality it was a day for the big forwards to slug it out up front. The two packs more or less cancelled each other out in the scrums with one exception which led to the match winning score for Jamie Dutton. The lineouts proved a nightmare for both throwers and jumpers but Luctonians arguably had the edge. But in the end in was their doggedness in defence, particularly at the death when Lucs were camped on the Hinckley line for what seemed like an age, that won it for Hornets.

The result leaves Hinckley in fifth position at the halfway point in the season, two points behind Clifton, and extends their unbeaten run to six games. It was also only the second defeat of the season for run-away leaders Luctonians and it came as something of a shock for the home support.

DOR Chris Campbell was once again full of praise for his men. ‘Last week I spoke to the Rugby Paper about the exciting, attacking rugby we are seeing in this division. This though was back to the old days - two sides going at each other in a real slug fest. The pitch (or at least one side of it) cut up within a few minutes of kick-off and the cross-field wind was probably the strongest I have ever seen at a game’

‘We were absolutely delighted with the first half, playing against the wind we held onto the ball for the majority of the half and managed to work metre by metre out of Luctonians. When they had the ball, we forced them into making kicks they didn’t want to make and to go in at 7 - 7 was fantastic and a real confidence booster.’

‘In all honesty, we didn’t manage the second half as well as I would have liked. We made it too easy at times for Luctonians to do what we did in the first half by giving away break down penalties and so didn’t build as much pressure as I wanted in their half.’

‘However, some might say I am being over critical. On a horrible day for rugby, we took our chances and then threw everything at it defensively. I think we were very good value for our win and the lads should be absolutely delighted with their efforts’

The tone of the game was set from the very first kick when, playing with the wind, Luctonians fly-half Thomas Jones looked a little non-plussed when his kick-off sailed dead to give Hinckley the first of what would be more than thirty scrums in the game. That scrum remained absolutely solid, similarly showing what was to come.

The anticipated aerial barrage that many expected Lucs, with the wind at their backs, to unleash throughout the first period happened, and it was initially Hornets who proved the more enterprising of the two sides.

Around the ten-minute mark a delightful offload from Rory Vowles on halfway saw Hornets take the ball to the Lucs 22m line. After a series of probing phases, Oli Bee got on the end of an offload in the tackle to break through, draw the last defender and hand on to Iwan Burgwin to stroll under the posts for the score. Vowles hit the simple conversion.

Lucs were back on level terms though six minutes later. Hinckley were penalised on halfway and Lucs set up a line-out 5m from the Hinckley
line. The catch and drive was held but Lucs continued to pick and drive and, eventually, it was second row Owen Harriott-Davis, who proved a thorn in Hinckley’s side all afternoon, who forced his way over for the score. Louis Silver converted.

From that point on, it became a wrestling match interspersed with penalty infringements and handling errors from both sides as they struggled to control the conditions. It must have come as some relief when the referee blew for half-time to give the players some respite from the wind but there was little doubt as to which of the two sides would have been happier as they trudged off.

The second half started just like the first, except this time it was Hinckley’s Callum Rowe who sent the ball dead. The slug-fest continued for the next quarter but much as Lucs had struggled to take advantage of the wind in the first period so too did Hornets in the second.

What turned out to be the match winning score came as the quarter came to an end. Lucs were awarded a scrum on their own 22m line but a great shove from the Hinckley eight won the ball against the head. Quick ball eventually sent the ball right and, with the Lucs’ defence misaligned, Dutton was able to run to the corner unopposed with Mitch Lamb free on his outside. Vowles could not make the conversion
though.

That was it really. The arm wrestling, the penalties and the errors continued unabated for the final quarter but with no lack of effort or commitment from either side. Hornets did have to endure a lengthy period of defensive duties at the death when Lucs camped in the Hinckley 22m, desperately searching for the equalizing score, but it never came. When the referee blew for time, two minutes early as far as many in the crowd were concerned, the Hinckley celebrations commenced and the normally rowdy home support were silenced.

It was never going to be a classic but it was a notable victory and Hornets will enter the second half of the season in good heart.

Nick Robinson