On paper, the visit of League 2 North new boys Sheffield to Leicester Road should have been a romp in the park for the Black and Ambers. Without a win from their 7 games in the higher division, the Sheffield team looked easy pickings for a Hinckley side unbeaten at home this season having scored an average of 45 points per game.

A casual observer browsing the results on Sunday morning may well have concluded that everything went to form. Hinckley outscored the visitors 6 tries to one, scoring 36 points and registering maximum points while denying Sheffield anything for their efforts.
Those of us who were there, however, would tell a very different story.

With less than 10 minutes of play remaining, Hinckley, with a howling gale at their backs, were pinned in their own half grimly hanging on to a one-score lead. A penalty award against the Black and Ambers 5 meters from their own line had the faithful holding their breath as Sheffield opted for a scrum.

Poor execution by the Sheffield pack, however, together with some tenacious Hinckley defence led to the visitors knocking on. Hinckley won a penalty from the resultant scrum and the danger was not only cleared but the home side had time to force their way down to the other end and drive Sheffield over their own line for try. Luke Coltman got the touch down in the final act of what was a rare piece of clinical execution in the second half from the Black and Ambers. Joe Wilson registered the extras as the referee blew for time with the score on 36-22 – heartbreak for the visitors and much relief for the home side.

Earlier, it had all started so well for Hinckley. Playing against a wind that meant every kick risked territorial loss, Hinckley secured a penalty on the Sheffield 5m line and from the resultant catch and drive, Steve Harvey forced his way over to register the first score. Joe Wilson missed the conversion but the home side were 5-0 up after 3 minutes.

12 minutes later, though, it was Sheffield who had edged ahead. In what became a theme running through the game, despite some promising handling, poor Hinckley discipline led to a series of penalty awards against the home side, 3 of which visiting scrum half Steve Depledge was able to convert.

Hinckley hit back. A scrum penalty in the Sheffield 22, gave Hinckley a catch and drive opportunity which was duly converted as captain Alex Salt powered over for the try, converted by Wilson – 12-9.

Another Depledge penalty to level the scores a few minutes later seemed no more than an irritant when Hinckley again secured a catch and drive opportunity on 28 minutes, and Joe Wilson picked up a loose ball to score under the posts and then converted his own score.

Hinckley could not shake off a persistent Sheffield side, however. A well worked try by the Sheffield wing Broadley brought the scores level again, but prop Steve Harvey did restore the Hinckley advantage on 37minutes after a barnstorming run by fellow prop Oscar Harper.

Despite a feeling that it could have been much better, a half-time advantage of 24-19 with a bonus point secured was a very satisfactory return and, with the wind now behind their team, the home crowd looked forward to another significant points haul.

Five minutes into the half, their optimism was rewarded as Sam Driver finished a classic piece of back play after the forwards had secured quick ball from a line-out.

That was it though, until Coltman’s late intervention broke Sheffield hearts. The rest of the half belonged to Sheffield. Yellow cards for Oscar Harper and Luke Coltman did not help the home cause but there seemed a baffling reluctance to use the wind to pin the Sheffield side in their own half.

It is hard to argue with the final outcome. The Black and Ambers have consolidated their 4th position in the League, maintained their unbeaten home record and added significantly to their positive points difference. But it could have been so much better.

Trusted advisor Darren Grewcock suggested that there may have been an element of complacency in the performance, and blamed some naïveté for the failure to address the penalty count. Perhaps though we are getting too used to success at Leicester Road. Despite everything, Hinckley are a team on the up and there is no side in the division who will look forward to visiting Leicester Road this season.

As for Sheffield, they are a much better side than their League position would suggest. Last season, Hinckley were rock bottom having won only one game out of eight at this stage but managed to step up from that point to finish a respectable 9th. Don’t be surprised if Sheffield do the same this season.

Next week, Hinckley visit high flying Tynedale.