For once both the wind and rain had relented as Hinckley took the field against Staffordshire visitors Longton. The home side kicked off up the slope, but with a slight breeze behind them. Hinckley welcomed back Steve Harvey, Tom Sanderson, Huw Marsden, Joe Glover and Sam Greasley. Liam Warren, Ben Marshall and Rich Harris made up the bench.

From the word go the home side got on the wrong side of the referee which didn't let up throughout the game. The considerable penalty count mounted in the first quarter although Hinckley were the first to score as Mitch Lamb finished off a flowing backs move out of defence. Mark Lord couldn’t add the conversion.
Longton came back and after a catch and drive line out move (the first of many) a penalty try was awarded as Hinckley allegedly stopped the move illegally. Matt Fearn saw yellow as the lead changed hands 5-7 to the visitors. Not to be outdone the Hinckley backs shone again as Callum Dacey skipped through the Longton defence to score with Lord adding the extras. Longton lock Keiran Healey was yellow carded as Hinckley put the pressure on the away teams line with a series of line outs and set scrums. Dacey repeated the trick again as his pace took him clear again to cross the Longton line for try number three converted by Lord and a convincing 19-7 lead.
Joe Glover added the bonus point gaining try on the interval again from concerted Hinckley pressure with Fearn at the fore. Lord’s conversion hit the upright and unluckily bounced out.

Hinckley were in a healthy 24-7 points lead and would be looking to push on after the interval.
Little did the healthy crowd know what was to happen immediately after the break!

In the space of twenty minutes Longton scored three tries, two converted all from penalties conceded by Hinckley, kicked for the corner, caught and driven over the home try line to take the visitors into a 26-24 point lead and Tom Morris in the bin. Hinckley were guilty of either losing possession by making simple errors, not being able to create any phases of play or falling foul of the referee. Play came to an abrupt halt as Lee Brogan the visiting Longton no 10 was knocked out cold and some quick thinking by Joe Glover in getting him into the recovery position probably prevented him from swallowing his tongue. Both teams physios were in attendance and eventually he was lead from the field of play as the paramedics turned up - we all wish him well.
Play resumed after twenty minutes with the floodlights on and Hinckley did what they had done earlier in the game to good effect by moving the ball wide as Lamb put Rich Harris in for the home sides fifth score, conversion missed although a 29-26 home lead. Back came Longton as Lamb was yellow carded for a high tackle, Grant Hallam stepped up to slot the penalty for an all share score of 29-29 with minutes left.
Hinckley were in the ascendancy in the final moments as the rolling maul gained the hard yards as the visitors were under considerable pressure. It all came to nought as a truck and trailer offence signalled the end of the game and in the context of the season Hinckley had to be content with three league points gained in a disappointing draw.

Hinckley scored all five tries by moving the ball away from contact and using the undoubted pace of the talented back line. So why then did they revert to type and engage in an arm wrestle with the combative Langton pack during most of the second half?
Questions also need to be asked as to the collective defending or even contesting the catch and drive.

Hinckley are on their travels next week visiting Newport in Shropshire as every game gains more importance as Scunthorpe continue to breath down Hinckley’s neck. However, to be increasingly bullish Hinckley are still top!