Hinckley continue where they left off in yo-yo game in Exeter

Hinckley returned to action in 2024 in a high scoring and exciting fixture at Exeter University, in which the Hornets came out on the right side of a 77 point game.

The fixture was moved from the normal venue at Exeters playing fields to the university 3G pitch which was narrower than expected which led to both sides being slightly constrained in their attacking game but it didn’t take away from the excitement if the afternoon for the spectators.

The biggest disappointment of the afternoon for Hinckley was the ease with which the visitors were able to score, with some new year rustiness showing in the defence which lead to Exeter taking the early lead.

Hinckley responded straight from the kick off however, winning a scrum and with a slight nudge from the forwards the gap opened up for Ben Pointon who handed off 3 players to run in the try from 50 metres.

The visitors then took the lead for the first time when a flowing team play end up with Sam Read powering over, with the debutant centre Matty Arden converting for a 12-7 lead.

The lead went back to Exeter smashing through the middle of the defence for a converted try, but the lead went straight back to Hinckley with Arden kicking a penalty from in front of the posts.

The penalty count was starting to stack up against Hinckley at this point and after a 5 metre line from a penalty the yo yo of the scoring continued as Exeter scored their third and they were now 21-15 up, but it was the Hornets who took the lead into the break with a powerful finish by Reuben Logan from the base of the scrum, converted again by Arden.

Moving into the second half Exeter managed to win the kick off back and drove over from a penalty move to give them the lead and the try bonus point, but then on 53 minutes the score line went back Hinckley’s way again, when a beautifully weighted cross field kick was taking and finished by Mitch Lamb, and a fantastic touch line conversion from Arden.

From this point Hinckley never gave up the lead and quickly backed it up with a 5th try of the afternoon with a fantastic run down the touchline from Oli Bee, but Exeter did her back to within 1, with a well executed maul try, but the with the first conversion miss from the home side Hinckley felt they held the advantage.

They then forced this home with Andrew Weaver going over from the maul with 9 minutes to go, and Arden’s conversion crucially took the game to a 8 point lead.

Exeter pressure in the closing stages but all they could manage was a penalty giving them a second bonus point with the last play.

Next week, Hinckley host Newport (Salop) at Leicester Road.