The scoreline suggests that this was a rout. Seven tries, 50 points, and another bonus point win against a club almost certainly doomed to relegation would suggest this was a stroll in the park from start to finish. But it was far from it!

At times in the first period, Hinckley struggled to get out of their own half and were hanging on against a determined Syston side. It would have been all square at the interval but for a Rory Vowles penalty with the last kick of the half but Syston will have gone in believing that the game was there for the taking.

It was a different match in the second half, however, as a combination of forward power and clinical finishing from Hinckley, plus a number of unforced errors from their opponents saw the Leicester Road men run in 36 unanswered point to put the game to bed and continue their late drive for what is still an unlikely but possible play-off position. Hinckley remain in third but next week take on second placed Luctonians at home. Win that and Hinckley would be very much in the running.

Defence Coach Ben Avent was quick to praise his opponents. ‘Credit to Syston, they threw everything at us in that first half and played some really good expansive rugby. We were up against the elements as well, so for the lads to put in that kind of shift and go into half-time 15–12 up was a huge effort. We had to weather a big ten minutes from Syston early on, and I thought the character we showed in that spell was outstanding.’

‘After the interval though, the lads really turned it on and delivered one of the best halves of rugby we’ve played all season. To score 36 unanswered points says a lot. Evan Carey controlled the game brilliantly with his boot and kept us playing in the right areas. And Oli Bee put in a massive shift — his work rate and physicality set the tone.’

This was always a potential banana skin for Hornets and the early exchanges did little to calm any nerves that the travelling support may have had. True, Hinckley were playing into the breeze but Syston came out like a train and had Hinckley under the cosh. It was no surprise when the home side scored first after 11 minutes through scrum half Shay Lewis (who was lively throughout) after a succession of penalties had given Syston a short-range line-out opportunity. The initial drive was held but despite resolute defence Lewis was eventually able to sneak over for the score.

That did seem to galvanise Hinckley however, as they gradually began to gain a foothold in the game. A lineout on the Syston 10m line was driven deep into the Syston 22m before been stopped illegally by a panicking Syston defence. Hinckley opted to scrum the penalty 10m from the Syston line, and, as the Syston eight started back-pedalling at a rate of knots the referee had not hesitation in going under the posts for a penalty try. Syston loose-head Archie Coldicott was despatched to the bin.

Hornets stretched the lead a few minutes later when they stole a Syston line-out 25m from the Hinckley line. The ball found Travis Bennett-Allcock who set off on a mesmerizing run that took him deep into Syston territory. Quick ball was sent along the line and to Callum Dacey on the opposite wing who carried to the line to finish in the corner.

But Syston weren’t finished and when Hinckley were reduced to 14 after Will Callan was carded the home side took advantage. A Hinckley drop out from under the posts struggled to make ground against the breeze and Syston were able to run the ball back through the advancing Hinckley defence a little too easily for a try. Centre Theo Mussel was the beneficiary. The conversion brought the scores level with half-time approaching.

Hinckley though still just had time to seize the lead with a Vowles penalty after another superb drive from a lineout on the Syston 10m line had carried the ball deep into the Syston 22m and drawn the penalty. It would have come as something of a blow to the Syston men to go in behind after such a competitive half.

On the return though, it didn’t take long for Hinckley to begin to turn the screw. Syston hooker Angus Knight was carded early on desperately trying to stop a Hinckley forward drive deep in the Syston 22m, and when Hornets were awarded a second penalty 15m out, they opted to scrum. The Syston pack were driven over their own line and Nick Tarr dotted down with Vowles adding the extras.

Two minutes later, a high kick from Evan Carey was dropped on the by Syston outside the 22m. Bennett-Allcock picked up, made ground and fed the rampaging Devon Coulson who charged over for the try and the bonus point. Again, Vowles converted.

As the third quarter started, an attempted Vowles chip over the Syston defence on halfway was partially charged down. Mitch Lamb recovered the ball and quickly fed Callum Dacey outside with the Syston defence out of position. Dacey needed no second invitation and ran to the line for his second try.

The points kept coming. When Syston carried the ball back into their 22m and then kicked dead, Hinckley had a line-out on the 22m. The throw went to the front, Josh Kent charged threw on the narrow side, fed Oli Bee, and the big second row crashed through for try. Vowles’s conversion took it to 12-41 and Syston were well and truly on the rack.

Four minutes later it was Sam Read finishing off a move that started with a loose ball in the Hinckley 22m. Jack Ramshaw picked up and charged 40m into Syston territory. When he was eventually hauled down, quick ball found Read who carried to the line, with Vowles again adding the extras.

That ended the try scoring but there was still time for Hinckley to break the half century. With the clock on red, a penalty at a scrum on the Syston 10m line handed Tom Addison the chance of an extra three points. He slotted it with ease to take it to 12-51. It was perhaps a cruel way to end what had been a tough 40 minutes for the home side.

Nick Robinson