Hinckley travelled to Lichfield arriving at Cooke Fields to a super pitch, bright sunlight and a fierce wind blowing from end to end, a sure indicator that it could be a game of two halves. Josh Smith came back into the side at no 12 while Rob Bryant took a seat on the bench. Ben Marshall made his first start of the season in the engine room with Huw Marsden at No8. Liam Warren and Ewan Bartlett made up the bench.

Lichfield kicked off with the wind at their backs and scored almost immediately as Cotterhill caught the visitors defence asleep going over under the posts. Luke Massey added the conversion.
Hinckley responded intelligently by driving out of defence, keeping the ball close and moving up the field as a cohesive unit. Tom Morris broke away to touchdown although Mark Lord’s conversion was blown wide. Cotterhill and Massey repeated the scoring for the home side as they took a 14-5 lead after the first quarter of the game. Hinckley came back and in a devastating five minute spell added three tries. Firstly a Penalty try as the home pack were splintered with Lord adding the conversion, secondly Matt Fearn crossed after a forward surge and Callum Dacey was set free wide on the right to score the bonus point gaining try. Both Lord and Joe Glover saw their relative conversion attempts blown aside, but Hinckley held a 14-22 lead. Lichfield scored another converted try just before half time from a Hinckley mistake as they tried to move the ball out of defence, but Hinckley still held a narrow one point lead at the break 21-22.

Now playing with the conditions Hinckley scored almost immediately as the rolling maul marched the home pack over their own line for Luke Coltman to gain the touchdown. Lord missed the conversion. For the next twenty minutes Lichfield threw the ball around and their quick backs probed for an opening meanwhile the resolute Hinckley defence smothered the attacks. However, a reluctance to kick for territory aided by the wind from the visitors gave the home side the momentum and after wave after wave of attacks Lichfield scored another converted try to take back the lead at 28-27.
Not to be outdone Hinckley responded again with Huw Marsden scoring to retake the lead at 28-32. The last few minutes were punctuated by a yellow card for Marsden as his attempt at an interception was deemed illegal by the referee quickly followed by Glover for a push. From the resultant line out Lichfield shifted the point of attack running through the depleted Hinckley defence to score the winning converted try on the final whistle.
The final score of 35 -32 to the home side and a massive disappointment to both the Hinckley players and supporters.

So consecutive seasonal visits to Cooke Fields have yielded very close, but ultimately last minute Hinckley defeats. Time to take stock and regroup for the run in to the end of the season.

Next week its Market Harborough away in the County Cup semi final (2pm ko) followed by Longton, Newport and Nuneaton in the league during February.