Hornets extended their unbeaten start to the season against Yorkshire visitors Wharfedale, themselves previously unbeaten, to remain at the top of the National 2 North table, just behind next week’s visitors Hull Ionians on points difference.

In truth, the Hinckley performance did not match that of the try fests of the first two weeks. Dale thrashed Hornets 40-17 when they last visited ‘The Avenue’ in what was probably Hornets worst performance of the year against a side that were enjoying something of a revival, and there was significant evidence on this display that the result was no ‘flash in the pan’. That said, few would contest that Hinckley shaded the game this time out.

‘It was great to get the win and deny Dale a bonus point,’ commented DOR George Chuter, ‘but we made it hard for ourselves through poor discipline, particularly in the first half. But the guys showed great resolve and bottle to haul themselves back in a game that could have been lost.’

It was a close run thing. Three inception tries and two men from each side being invited to take an enforced rest by the referee kept it interesting throughout but Hornets arguably won the game when, with the game finely poised at 23-24 to the visitors, and Dale pressing hard for a bonus point score, Joe Wilson intercepted on halfway and ran to the line unopposed. His conversion took the score to 30-24 and Dale could not respond.

Hornets had taken an early lead on 5 minutes when a kick out of defence by Dale was partially charged down. Wilson collected the loose ball, and fed Ryan Hough to score out wide. Wilson converted and Hornets were 7-0 up.

But matters started to unwind almost immediately when Dale recovered the kick-off and, notwithstanding a couple of passes with more than a hint of forward about them, ran the ball to the line for Chris Walker to touch down. The conversion evened the score.

Dale went in front with a penalty shortly afterwards when Hornets were penalised in front of their posts but that was only a prelude to a period of sustained Hinckley pressure. A series of Hinckley scrums close to the Dale line saw the Dale pack struggling to hold the Hinckley eight and the referee could easily have awarded a penalty try as Dale repeatedly infringed.

In the end, Dale managed to break the stranglehold and registered the next score when they in turn intercepted on halfway to go 7-17 up with half-time approaching.

Hornets though managed to draw level before the break when first Wilson slotted a long-range penalty to bring Hornets within 7, and then Tom Wheatcroft scored with another interception from half-way.

Wilson put Hornets in front again from a penalty on 55 minutes and extended the lead shortly afterwards when Wharfedale were penalised 5m out under their own posts, an offence which saw Dale flanker James Tyson carded.

That seemed to goad Dale, however, as they took the game to Hinckley and had perhaps their best period of the game.

Wilson was carded after a Dale surge almost carried them over and Hinckley found themselves having to defend a series of Dale lineouts. The pressure eventually told when, from a close range catch and drive, Will Bell was driven over the line by his pack assisted by half of the Dale back division.

The conversion edged Dale ahead and the Hinckley defence was tested to the full. Alex Salt was carded for repeat offending by the Hinckley pack with 10 minutes to go, but the line held and Wilson’s timely interception sealed the points for Hinckley. A last minute Wilson penalty rubbed salt in the Dale wounds, denying them Dale a bonus point they probably deserved.

Hull Ionians visit Leicester Road next week for table topping showdown. Kick-off is 3pm.