This was a cracking game! Any neutral would have thoroughly enjoyed the encounter with both sides giving it their all while scoring six tries apiece, including a hat-trick for Will Callan. The lead changed hands no less than eight times during the course of the afternoon and the result remained in doubt right up until the dying seconds. It made for much nervous chewing of finger nails for both sets of supporters and the eventual losers would rightly have felt a huge sense of disappointment.

In the end, it was Cinderford who took the spoils – just – and Hinckley had to settle for two points when it could so easily have been five. Hinckley produced some superb rugby but that they failed to win was as much down to recurring problems as it was to Cinderford’s determination. Whereas some improvement in the line-out was apparent, twice Hinckley botched short-range line-out opportunities. They again spent twenty minutes of the game with only 14 men on the field, and they conceded a try within minutes of the restart after the interval thereby surrendering a first half lead. Should these problems be addressed, then on the evidence of this performance, Hinckley will be a formidable force for the rest of the season but they need to be addressed.

Defence coach Ben Avent couldn’t hide his frustration after the game. ‘As losses go, this one really hurts. To come so close and fall just short in the final moments is incredibly tough to take. I couldn’t have asked any more from the lads today. They put in an absolutely massive shift, showed real heart, and left everything out on the pitch. Some of the individual player stats will back that up.’

‘That said, we’re still making too many errors like dropping kick offs, missing lineouts and ultimately conceding too many points and I shoulder the responsibility for that. At this level, those small lapses make a big difference. We spoke after the game about being more accurate under pressure and making better decisions in key moments. The positives are there. Our attack looked sharp at times, and the spirit in the group is as strong as ever, but we know there’s plenty to tighten up.’

‘We’ll review the game in detail, learn from it, and come back better. The lads are an honest group and they’ll respond in the right way. We’ll train hard this week, focus on fixing the areas that cost us, and we’ll be ready to go again against Syston on Saturday. We owe it to ourselves and our supporters to bounce back with a big performance.’

The opening minutes were tight although Cinderford arguably had the edge and that they took the lead with a lovely break from winger Sam Smith streaking through a gap in the Hinckley line after 16 minutes, was nothing less than they deserved. Sonny Greenman slotted an excellent conversion from out wide to make it 7-0.

But within a minute, Jamie Dutton took an interception on halfway and showed a clean pair of heels to score in the corner. Rory Vowles was unlucky to hit the post with the conversion attempt but a few minutes later Mitch Lamb was put through on halfway, offloaded to Will Callan 15m out and Callan was able to stretch out for the score as the covering defence hauled him down. Vowles made the conversion and Hinckley were in front.

Greenman slotted a penalty from 20m to close the gap and Cinderford took the lead again with half time fast approaching a when a short-range catch and drive attempt was initially held but eventually taken over by centre Morgan Miles-Davies for the score. Greenman made it 17-12.

But Hornets were not done and grabbed the lead right on half-time with a catch and drive from 5m after Cinderford had been penalised for holding on just inside their own half. Dale Bowyer claimed the score and Vowles converted to send Hinckley into the break with a slender two-point lead.

Much to the visiting support’s frustration, however, Hinckley went behind just a minute after the restart. From the kick-off, Cinderford worked their way down the field and wing Will Anderson went over in the corner for his second.

Five minutes later, Cinderford extended their lead when a chip over the Hinckley defence bounced awkwardly and popped up into the arms of Smith who went over for his second and when Greenman added the extras, at 29-19, it was starting to look ominous for the visitors.

But four minutes later they were back in it from a catch and drive attempt from 15m. The drive was held but the ball went out and Lamb was able to go over under the posts to present Vowles and a simple conversion.

As the game entered the final quarter, Hinckley took the lead again. A chip ahead from a scrum just inside the Cinderford half was collected by Matt Guilfoyle. He made ground and chipped again for Callan to pick up and go for the line for an excellent score and Callan’s second. Vowles converted – 29-33.

Guilfoyle was then unfortunate to pick up a yellow card for a high challenge, which arguably turned the game. From the penalty, a short-range catch and drive was taken over for by tight-head James Elliott and Greenman’s conversion made it 36-33 with just 11 minutes left.

Hinckley could easily have caved at that point but they actually took the lead. Vowles set up a catch and drive from 5m and, when the drive was halted, delivered a dreamlike reverse pass to Callan who strode in under the posts for his hat-trick. Vowles converted and Hinckley had just eight minutes for the win.

Cinderford responded with a furious assault on the Hinckley line, matched by some equally furious defence from the visitors but eventually numbers told when Elliott was able to drive over for the score which Greenman converted. Time wasn’t quite done but there was simply not enough time for Hornets to come back again and the home side simply played out the remaining minute before despatching the ball into the crowd. Cue delight for the Cinderford side, matched by despair on the faces of the visitors.

Nick Robinson