Hinckley simply proved too powerful for a young and relatively inexperienced Barnstaple side bringing further joy to a large, raucous, festive crowd at Leicester Road on Saturday. To their credit, Barnstaple kept fighting to the end but could not stem the rolling juggernaut which the Hornets had become by the end of the afternoon. The Chiefs could not get out of their own half for much of the second period and whenever they did have some decent possession, Hornets seemed able to drive them back at will. They were not perhaps at their slickest, but they were unstoppable by the end.

To be fair, this was the type of game that the Hornets relish. Soft underfoot, a strong breeze, driving rain for at least part of the game, the conditions were ideally suited to Hinckley’s strengths. Added to that, Barnstaple’s game was much more akin to the hard, confrontational style of play that Hornets were accustomed to in the Northern division and which they are far more comfortable with. It was almost like the Chiefs walked into a perfect storm. Bar one bizarre try, when it seemed that the Hinckley defence simply stepped aside to allow Barnstaple a free run to the line, Barnstaple did not look like scoring a try all afternoon.

DOR Scott Hamilton was quick to praise his men after the game. ‘It was pleasing to get back to winning ways and there were some good performances out there, particularly when you remember we were missing half our regular pack. We were confident going into the game and didn’t feel that Barnstaple posed quite the attacking threat that some other sides in the division have shown. I felt that if we didn’t give anything away, cut out the mistakes and maintained our discipline we would win, and so it proved. We scored some good tries, with Ben Pointon’s solo effort being the stand-out, our scrum was dominant and, after a few wobbles recently, our line-out went well. All in all, it was a solid all-round performance and sets us up well for next week’s derby against Lions.’

One area that perhaps will need to change for next week is the start. Once again, Hornets found themselves down within a few minutes of the kick-off. This time, Hornets knocked on from the penalty and then were penalised at the scrum presenting Chiefs’ fly-half Jake Murphy an easy three points. It could have been much worse if Barnstaple had gone for the catch and drive.

Murphy and Joe Wilson then exchanged penalties, but it wasn’t until the start of the second quarter that the game started to open up. Hornets botched a penalty line-out 5m from the Chiefs line but then won a penalty from the subsequent scrum. They elected to scrum again, won a second penalty, scrummed again and the ball was sent right for Josh Smith eventually forced his way over for the try. Wilson’s conversion took it to 10-6.

Ten minutes later came the highlight of the game. Ben Pointon picked up from the back of a scrum just inside the Chiefs’ half and set off on a mazy run to the line leaving the Barnstaple defence for dead. Wilson converted and the score remained at 17-6 until the break. Confidence was high that, with the wind at their backs in the second half, Hornets were on their way to a comfortable win.

Ten minutes in, and Hornets notched their third try. Wilson set up a 5m penalty line-out, the maul was set, and Oscar Harper was driven over for the score.

The bonus point try was not long in coming and was a near carbon copy of the earlier score with Harper again claiming the try.

Barnstaple did then hit back with a try of their own just four minutes later, converted by Murphy, when the Hinckley defence seemed to collectively fall asleep (there was a suggestion they were waiting for the referee to blow for a forward pass which was not given), allowing the Chiefs to run through for an easy try.

It was just a blip though. Joe Wilson calmed any jitters there may have been with a penalty from 25m after a high tackle, and then Euan Kelly intercepted on the Barnstaple 22m as the Chiefs started to chase the game.

Hinckley’s sixth and final try was a penalty try. The Chiefs wing made a complete hash of a booming kick by Rory Vowles from inside his own 22m allowing first Wilson, and then Mitch Lamb to hack the ball through beyond the try line. As Lamb ran through to touch the ball down, he was held back and the referee immediately went under the posts, and then blew for time.

And so, to the Lions! Looking forward, Hamilton was hopeful but not complacent. ‘We’ll start as underdogs. Lions are a strong well-balanced unit and have been playing very well this year, but we are definitely in with a chance. Matt Fearne should be back and, hopefully, Alex Salt will have recovered from the knock he took this afternoon. It will be a great match to watch and should set the crowd up for the Christmas celebrations.’

Nick Robinson