Transformed Hornets end their Chester jinx

It is difficult to believe that the Hornets side that demolished a strong Chester side at Leicester Road on Saturday was the same team that surrendered so abjectly to struggling Wharfedale the week before. Growing in confidence as the match progressed, Hornets eventually squeezed the life out of Chester. Aggressive defending, a scrum that dominated the much vaunted Chester eight, and some slick interplay between backs and forwards saw the Hornets run in six tries to Chester’s four. It was only a helter skelter last 15 minutes, as Chester chased a bonus point, that allowed the visitors to put a gloss of respectability on the final score.

That said, it was Chester who drew first blood on seven minutes. Hinckley were penalised on halfway for not rolling away allowing Chester to set up a line-out 10m from the Hinckley line. Chester set up the drive well but were held short of the line. The ball was released and Chester flanker Craven went over for the try which was converted by James Robbins.

But Hinckley hit back almost immediately. Hornets recovered possession from the kick off and worked their way into the Chester 22m. The Chester defence bought an outrageous dummy from Joe Wilson who eventually offloaded to send Alex Salt over for the first of his three tries. Wilson’s conversion tied the scores at 7-7.

A few minutes later, Chester restored their lead when a penalty against Hinckley on halfway again allowed Chester to set up a catch and drive in the Hinckley 22m. Hinckley held the initial forward drives but the ball was released along the line and Chester winger Macca Van Sentinma went over in the corner. The conversion was missed.

Hinckley went close shortly afterwards when Chester were stripped of the ball in their own 22m and the ball was passed down the line only for the Chester winger to deliberately knock-on with the line beckoning.

The offence earned him 10 minutes in the sin bin but Hinckley didn’t seem able to take advantage of the extra man. It was not until 28 minutes that Joe Glover intercepted just inside the Chester half and just made the line, handing off the same Chester defender three times in the process. Wilson missed the conversion but the scores were tied at 12-12.

The game then began to turn in Hinckley’s direction. Chester found themselves unable to break the gain line as Hornets began to turn the screw. It was not, however, until 40 minutes were up on the clock that Hinckley were able to break through. A clever kick through the line from Josh Smith saw Chester knock-on 5m from their line, and, from the resultant scrum, Salt picked up to drive over the line from short-range.

Wilson converted and there was still time, in what seemed like a never-ending first period, for Hinckley to secure the bonus point in time added on. Hornets elected to scrum a penalty 5m from the Chester line and Salt scored his third to secure the bonus point as the Hinckley eight pushed the opposition over their own line.

15 minutes into the second period, Josh Smith broke the Chester line on halfway but dropped the ball in contact. The referee judged the ball went back and the ball was hacked on for Jamie Skerritt to touch down over the line for what some might consider a fortunate score. Wilson converted to take the score to 33-12.

Ten minutes later, with Hinckley now enjoying themselves, an exhilarating end to end move saw Wilson run out of his own 22m to set up Mitch Lamb for a run to the line. Connor Bullivant eventually touched down to collect his first try of the season. Wilson’s conversion took the core to 40-12.

With the match effectively over, Hinckley emptied their bench, and Chester began to throw the ball around in search of a bonus point. They got it, although it has to be said Hornets should really have closed the game down rather than joining in the mayhem. A Chester line-out on the Hinckley 5m line allowed the Chester pack to drive over for their third try, and an almost carbon copy at the death, from a penalty that earned Bullivant a yellow card, left the final score at 40-24.

It was a satisfying end to the season at home and sent the Hinckley faithful home in a positive frame of mind after the trauma of the last few weeks. Hornets are away to Blaydon next week, a game that the hosts must win to have a chance of staying up. It would send a message to the rest of the division if the Hornets could carry forward this week’s form and secure the fourth place finish their early season form deserves.

Nick Robinson