And so that's the end - the first season back in National 2 has been a very successful one and it ended with a thrilling game against Harrogate who, with the loss have been relegated.

At times Hinckley were quite brilliant, and at other times extremely average - a tale of the season some might say, but it was fun to watch and sent everyone off to the summer with a smile.

Playing against the wind in the first half Hinckley dominated territory in the opening 10 minutes with some loose passing meaning no early points were earnt.

The first score went to Harrogate with a penalty from the half way line, and the visitors, who in the end where helpless in their battle to stay up with results elsewhere, then earnt a run of penalties which lead to Joe Wilson going to sin bin which eventually lead to try under the posts for a 10-0 lead. Then from the kick off Hinckley regained the ball and were in a strong attacking position but a pass was intercepted leading to a second try and a 17 point deficit to come back from.

A score before half time was essential to keep Hinckley in the game and this came with 5 minutes to go in the half - some excellent build up play gave Glen Murray the opportunity to make an outside break and set up Josh Smith to score his 24th try for the club on his 100th appearance.

Wilson missed the conversion but soon after the break kicked a penalty to take the score to 17-8, and on 48 minutes the game was back on when Scott Hamilton rolled back the years to step two defenders and accelerate through a half gap to score next to the posts. Wilson converted and the game was left at 17-15.

Harrogate stretched their lead on 54 minutes when a miss-communication at the lineout allowed one of the visiting second rows to pick up the ball on half way and break through some pretty poor attempts at tackles to run the distance to score in the right hand corner. The conversion was added for a 24-15 lead, although just 3 minutes later, Joe Wilson squeezed over in the corner for a his 3rd try since joining the club in February.

With injures starting to pile up all 10 Hinckley interchanges had been made with 15 minutes to go and when Harrogate got a bonus point score with 10 to play giving a 31-20 lead, it looked like it was game over.

However this was not the case as Hinckley started to hammer hard at the visiting defence, and lock was opened by Mark Lord, another player who rolled back the years on Saturday playing right on the line and this time offloading out the back door to Ben Marshall who finished well.

The deficit was still 6, with minutes to go, but things weren't done, and the winning try was quite apt, and one which well summarises Hinckleys play over recent years. With attack on the 22 going nowhere, Smith and Hamilton managed to stand up a maul, which was joined by 12 other players and ended up with a try for man of the match Ben Avent. The try brought a smile to a lot of faces, even more so when Connor Eastgate, fresh from an A league semi final at Kingsholm for Wasps kicked the winning points with the conversion.

Harrogate, now desperate tried everything to make a final break but couldn't get any closer than the Hinckley 22, leading to a final drop goal attempt which was pushed well wide.

An excellent first season in National 2 North comes to an end. Enjoy the summer everyone.