This was so much better from Hinckley! After last week’s tepid performance at Barnstaple, it was obvious from the intensity of the early exchanges that Hornets were determined to make amends. And so they did with six tries and a bonus point win that lifted them to eleventh in the table and hopefully gave them the momentum to finally get their season off the ground. There are still things to work on – the line-out was, at best, inconsistent, blowing three clear try scoring opportunities close to the Lymm line, and Rory Vowles needs to recalibrate his place-kicking radar – but as the game went on, Hornets found some much needed confidence and towards the end gave a competitive Lymm side known for their back play a few lessons in how to break the line.

There were nerves aplenty and Lymm were anything but a pushover, taking the lead on four separate occasions. There was little to choose between the two sides throughout the first period and when Hinckley yet again surrendered a slender half-time lead within a few minutes of the restart, and again went behind as the game entered the final quarter, there was yet again an ominous feeling of impending doom. The final quarter, however, was a different matter as Hinckley finally asserted some control and strangled the life out of their opponents with three unanswered tries.

The scrum, with loose-head Matt Browne outstanding, was utterly dominant in the final quarter winning penalties for fun, the defence was solid, and some of the running lines from the backs were a delight to watch. Ben Pointon was again exceptional and Mitch Lamb had perhaps his best game of the season to date. All in all, it was a very satisfactory afternoon for the Leicester Road men while Lymm will be cursing their luck to have encountered Hinckley with a point to prove.

Defence coach Ben Avent was a different man from that following the Barnstaple game, delighting in the overall performance. ‘Defensively, we were aggressive and off the line right from the first whistle — exactly the kind of intensity we’ve been asking for. We also scored some great tries with some sharp attacking play that really put Lymm under pressure. I was particularly pleased with how we managed the game when we went 22-20 down in the second half; the boys stayed composed, stuck to the plan, and turned the momentum back our way. Now the focus has to be on backing that performance up on the road this week.’

After some fierce early contacts, it was Lymm who drew first blood when Tom Shard slotted a penalty ten minutes in after Hinckley had been penalised for one of many tackles adjudged high by the referee during the afternoon.

It was another of those tackles that saw Rory Vowles carded a few minutes later after Hinckley had gone close from a catch and drive attempt but with Vowles off the field Hinckley still managed to take the lead. Will Callan cleverly managed to keep a Lymm penalty in-field, knocking it back to Matt Guilfoyle who collected inside his own half and ran deep into the Lymm 22m before being stopped illegally. Vowles set up the line-out and Nick Tarr delivered the try from the catch and drive attempt.

But the lead was short-lived. From a scrum 30m from the Hinckley line, the ball was patiently worked up-field by the Lymm pack and flanker Ben Thompson eventually went over as Hinckley ran out of defenders. Shand added the extras to make it 5-10 after 24 minutes.

However, a stunning run from Jamie Dutton five minutes later brought the scores level. A delightful pass from Rory Vowles on the Hinckley 22m put Dutton away and he just made the line despite a high tackle from Nathan Beesley on the line which cost him ten minutes in the bin. Had Beesley successfully stopped Dutton with that tackle, it may well have been a red card and a penalty try. Given that Vowles missed the conversion attempt, Hinckley could feel a little aggrieved.

Hinckley though did take the lead a couple of minutes later when the ball went loose on halfway. Callan hacked the ball through, collected in the 22m, and went over for the try to give Hinckley a 15-10 half-time lead.

The lead changed again shortly after the return when centre Sam Wadsworth, the pick of the Lymm backs, went over after Hinckley had first held a couple of catch and drive attempts. Shand added the extras.

Hinckley responded almost immediately when, from a line-out just inside Lymm territory, Mitch Lamb put Will Callan through to go for the line. He was not to be stopped.

That was the bonus point score but Lymm were far from finished and a catch and drive from 5m restored their lead again on 59 minutes with No. 8 Josh Hadland this time claiming the score.

That made it 20-22 with twenty to go – anyone’s game. It was Hinckley though that grabbed the chance.

Ben Pointon made a break from a line-out on halfway going deep into the Lymm 22m and Josh Kent was on hand to take the offload to finish the job.

Then, from another Hinckley line-out on the Lymm 22m, the ball found its way to Lamb who this time put Sam Read clean through to the line. This time Vowles did add the extras to ironic cheers from the home crowd and Hinckley were two scores clear with ten to go.

With Hinckley now in absolute control, Matt Browne put the icing on the cake five minutes later on what had been an excellent afternoon for him. A short-range catch and drive attempt was initially held by the Lymm pack but after a series of pick and goes Browne was able to go over under the posts for the score and Vowles again converted.

That was it! A relieved Hinckley trooped off a few minutes later with five points in the bag. Lymm left with nothing. They can justifiably feel a little hard done by given their battling performance.

Nick Robinson