Hornets took the long drive down to North Devon hoping to inject a little momentum into their season against a side whom they have traditionally held the upper hand. In the end it proved another major disappointment for the Leicester Road men as they failed to kick-start their season, eventually going down 52-29, a victory which saw Barnstaple rise to second in the table and Hinckley to slide to next to bottom.

Yet at half-time, it seemed that Hinckley were on the verge of a first away victory of the season having snatched a 17-22 lead in the face of a howling gale and, with the wind behind them and a lead to build on, most in the crowd expected Hornets to cruise to a comfortable victory.

But for the second week in succession, despite Storm Amy giving the visitors every assistance, Hinckley surrendered a half-time lead to a side they had more than matched in the first period. Whereas last week, however, they went down fighting against a better side, this week it looked more like an abject capitulation as they conceded 35 unanswered points to a Barnstaple side who by the end were utterly rampant. The scrum, which had looked so solid in the first half with what was a make-shift front-row, disintegrated; the line-out, not a strong point even in the first period, descended into chaos; and the pack simply did not compete in the loose. The back division, with Ben Pointon being the pick, looked sharper and more incisive than their counterparts throughout and did grab a late consolation try at the death, albeit when the home side were in the heads celebrating in the bar, but even they were guilty of some horrendous defensive mistakes.

The catalyst for the collapse was again a yellow card, this time for Josh Kent, early in the second period, and a card for Isaac Thompson within a few minutes of Kent’s return meant that Hinckley played much of the half with only fourteen men. It made for a sorry spectacle and raised questions marks over fitness, discipline, and commitment.

Defence coach Ben Avent was far from a happy man at the end of proceedings. ‘I was really disappointed in our second half performance, particularly after we had done so well to go in ahead at half-time. We had worked ourselves into a match winning position but then threw it away. We did not meet our own high standards today and we need to have a good hard look at ourselves to work out why that was. There is still time to pull the season round but we have not started well and a win next week against Lymm is now critical.’

It started so well for the visitors when in just the second minute, from a scrum on the Barnstaple 10m line, Ben Pointon chipped ahead to the corner and won the footrace to the line to touch down for the first try. Rory Vowles was unlucky to hit the post with the conversion attempt.

Jamie Dutton went close shortly afterwards but Barnstaple took the lead on ten minutes from a catch and drive attempt from 10m. The initial drive was held, but, after a series of pick and goes, second-row Arthur Marks went over for the score which Henry Sellick converted.

Hinckley, unsurprisingly given the wind, found themselves under pressure, pinned in their own half. Barnstaple extended the lead on 20 minutes when flanker Jonathon Carter forced his way over after what seemed an endless series of pick and goes on the Hinckley line and went further head on 26 minutes when Marks again forced his way over after Hinckley overthrew their own line-out ball 15m from their own line.

At 17-5, it wasn’t looking good for the Hornets, but they then struck a purple patch. A Hinckley line-out 30m from the Barnstaple line was overthrown but landed in the arms of Thompson who charged to within 10m and a series of pick and goes eventually saw Matt Browne go over. Vowles converted.

Barnstaple kicked dead from the restart to give Hinckley a scrum on halfway. Ollie Bee picked up and made ground from the back before offloading to Sam Read who ran in from 35m for the try to bring the scores level.

And Hinckley went ahead five minutes later after Pointon had twice gone close from distance, earning a line-out 10m from the Barnstaple line from the second attempt. A well-executed catch and drive saw Thompson go over for the score, a bonus point and the half-time lead.

All looked well for the Hornets until Kent was carded on the Hinckley 22m five minutes in. With Hinckley down to seven in the scrum Barnstaple opted to scrum and pushed Hornets back 10m. Another penalty for offside was also scrummed and another, and another and another until eventually from a tap and go, Carter went over for his second which Sellick converted.

Two minutes late Sellick collected in his own 22m and ran 80m, breaking four tackles en-route for a spectacular solo effort which he then converted. The floodgates had opened.

A scrum on the Hinckley 22m saw Thompson carded and from the penalty Barnstaple went over again, and again, Sellick added the extras. Barnstaple were rampant, Hinckley in pieces. It was carnage.

Two more tries, both from No 8 Brandon Moore and both converted, followed to take it to 52-22 and, with 78m on the gone, the home support was rapturous.
There was still time for a lovely little chip over the top on the Barnstaple 22m by Tom Addison which was collected by Will Callan for a consolation try but frankly no-one really noticed or cared, and when Vowles added the extras, the referee brought matters to an end.

Nick Robinson