This was a wild ride! In conditions reminiscent of last week and on a pitch almost too perfect for a game at this stage of the season, Taunton and Hinckley served up an insanely fluctuating contest that yielded 13 tries and almost a century of points. Hinckley actually outscored their opponents in terms of tries, but the boot of Taunton fly-half Louis Sinclair proved the difference. Three long range penalties in a ten-minute spell in the final quarter, as Taunton looked to kill their opponents off, was just a little too much for a Hinckley side who never gave up and gave the Somerset men the scare of their lives. Indeed, Hornets almost snatched it at the end but a misdirected line-out throw (one of many) in added time was seized by the Titans and duly despatched into touch to an audible sigh of relief from the home support.

It had been a gloriously entertaining game but one where Hinckley ultimately came up short. The biggest issue was in the line-out which malfunctioned badly for most of the game. Several opportunities within metres of the Taunton line which would have won the match were botched and it cost the Leicester Road men dearly. One might also question some of the on-field decision making. Hinckley have developed a free-running, adventurous style of rugby which is a joy to watch and has delivered a bag full of points since Christmas but, on occasions, that adventure can tip over into recklessness and there were a number of such occasions on Saturday. It was perhaps a salutary lesson.

Defence coach Ben Avent was clearly frustrated at the end of the game. ‘I’m really disappointed. We had more than enough chances to win that game but we didn’t take them. Plus, we have to be far harder to breakdown, defensively. We can’t change the result now but we will be working hard to finish the season on a high away at Luctonians next week.’

Much as last week, Hornets roared out of the blocks stunning the home side with their endeavour so early in the game. An unlucky bounce from a ball hacked through from halfway denied Hinckley in the first couple of minutes but they still claimed the first score after just six. Rory Vowles kicked a penalty from halfway into the Taunton 22m, Jack Ramshaw delivered the ball from the line-out and a delightful reverse pass from Ben Pointon to Callum Dacey coming in on the angle allowed the wing-man to ghost through for the score. Vowles added the extras.

Hornets doubled the advantage a few minutes later. A Hinckley scrum in their own 22m seemed under pressure but Pointon sent the ball wide to Rafe Witheat who carried into the Titans’ half. The ball was recycled and carried into the 22m before Pointon saw a gap in the line and broke through to score under the posts and give Vowles the easiest of conversions.

It was great stuff but the restart wasn’t. Will Callan took the ball inside the Hinckley 22m, ran to the 10m line but then put in an ill-conceived chip over the top. It would have been spectacular if it had come off but it didn’t. Taunton gleefully accepted the ball and ran it back through a non-existent defence for centre Andrew Humberstone to claim the easiest of scores. Sinclair added the extras with an impressive kick from out wide.

But Hornets bounced back. A Hinckley line-out on the Taunton 22m was overthrown but Mitch Lamb was alert enough to grab the ball and set-up Man-of-the match Billy Pasco to run in for the score. Vowles converted and it was 7-21 after 18 minutes.

However, from the restart, an inexplicable lapse in defence allowed Taunton to stroll through for a score after just one phase. It was poor stuff and allowed Taunton back into a game that otherwise may have got beyond them.

They were back level within eight minutes. A penalty for holding on was kicked to 10m. The maul from the line-out was sacked but the ball went right for wingman Ben Heath to run to the line. Sinclair again converted.

Hinckley were still arguably on top but it was at this point that the line-out malaise really took hold. Two line-out chances on the Taunton 5m line were blown and then another, 25m from the Taunton line, was overthrown, seized by the Taunton backs who ran the ball 70m for Reece Malone to put the home side in front for the first time.

And that was it for the first period. Taunton went in with a 26-21 advantage that they had been gifted rather than earned.

That became 33-21 within six minutes. A Titans line-out on the Hinckley 22m was initially held but a peel off the back of the maul eventually saw Malone go in for his second and Sinclair added two more.

Hinckley did respond with a well worked try from Callan which saw Hornets work their way to the line from halfway but Titans by this time were in control and sought to put the game out of reach for the Leicester Road men with two well struck penalties from Sinclair and with just twelve to go, Hornets were thirteen points adrift.

They certainly weren’t out though. Hinckley managed to steal a Taunton line-out just inside the Hinckley half, Callan carried into Titans territory, and a beautiful offload to Pasco gave the opportunity to run to the line and, when Vowles converted, Hinckley were within a score.
But Sinclair added another penalty just two minutes later and when Taunton pounced on a loose pass inside the Hinckley 22m to send in Heath for his second with six to go, at 49-33, it really did look curtains for Hinckley.

Not so! Witheat broke from halfway, passed inside to Callan who ran in for a delightful score under the posts. Callan quickly dropped the conversion and Hinckley were back a couple of minutes later. Vowles kicked a penalty to within 35m, the line-out was claimed and beautifully worked to the line for debutant Sam Toon to claim the score. Vowles converted and with a minute on the clock, there were two points in it. And when Titans were penalised for not releasing just inside their own half and Vowles kicked to 30m, there was near panic amongst the home support. But just at the critical moment Hinckley’s line-out woes returned. Titans stole it and the ball was unceremoniously despatched into touch to end the game. Titans were mightily relieved; Hornets had to reflect on what might have been.

Nick Robinson