There will be few people who could claim to have enjoyed all that storms Dudley and Eunice threw in our direction this week but it’s likely that among those few were the players and coaching staff at Hinckley RFC. Scheduled to take on Esher, one of the freest scoring teams in the division with a lightening quick set of backs, rain and mud were always likely to be Hornets allies. And so it proved.

Hornets prefer a game dominated by forward power in direct contrast to their opponents, and conditions at Leicester Road on Saturday were always likely to favour the home side. Two tries from rolling mauls plus a penalty and a conversion, all in the first half, were just enough for Hornets to overcome a single converted try and two penalties from an Esher side who still looked capable of producing a little magic to steal the game right up to the final whistle.

It was a hard-fought win, though surprisingly entertaining considering the conditions, and cast Hornets in an unfamiliar role as the side hanging onto a slender lead at the back end of the game. But hang on they did to claim victory against one of the top sides in the division and reap revenge on a team who defeated them by a single point earlier in the season with the last kick of the game.

‘It was a much-improved performance compared to last week,’ commented DOR Scott Hamilton, ‘and gives us the opportunity to build a sequence of wins over the next few weeks. The weather helped us but nevertheless I felt it was a very accomplished performance over the 80 minutes. We kept the ball well, chased well, defended well, and forced errors. Overall, I think the difference was the line-out, but we do need to look at our red zone attack. I’m not sure why but when we get in the red zone we are not as aggressive with our carries and there were quite a few occasions in the second half when we were entrenched in their 22m, and we came away with nothing. That said, it was a very good win against one of the top sides, so I’m not complaining.’

The early exchanges were relatively even, and it was gratifying to see that Hornets did not concede an early lead in the way that has become so familiar at Leicester Road this season. Hinckley’s scrum did struggle initially, and Hornets were fortunate not to concede a lead when they were pushed off their own ball 10m from their line but from the resultant penalty line-out, the throw was deemed not straight, and Hinckley escaped.

Esher did take the lead after 13 minutes with a penalty from fly-half Sam Morley, but Joe Wilson responded with a penalty for Hinckley four minutes later and Hornets ended the first quarter on a par with the opposition for the first time that many in the crowd could remember this season.

It got better after 23 minutes when Hornets won a scrum penalty 25m from the Esher line and Wilson kicked to 5m. From the line-out, Andy Weaver seized the throw and set up the driving maul and Dale Bowyer dotted down over the line. Joe Wilson’s conversion gave Hornets a 10-3 lead.

Matt Fearne repeated the act just before the interval from a near identical position. Wilson hit the post with the conversion attempt, but it was enough to send Hornets into the break with a comforting 15-3 lead.

Esher returned with renewed vigour, however, and Hornets found themselves with work to do to hold the lead.

The visitors did pull one back 10 minutes into the second period when an indifferent kick out of defence from Ben Pointon gave Esher a line-out just inside the Hornets 22m. The drive was held but the ball was worked across the field and Morley sliced through the Hornets defence to score under the posts. The conversion was a simple affair for Morley and the lead was down to a single score.

Esher had their tails up and Hornets had to defend hard to hang on. A penalty from Morley on the hour cut the lead to just two points leaving a final quarter wracked with tension.

Morley missed a relatively simple kick which would have given the Surry side the lead and even in the wet and the mud, the EEE’s were able to show some of the slick passing which has left them near the top of the division.

That said, it wasn’t all Esher. Hornets did have their opportunities but neither side was able to force another score and, when Wilson unceremoniously booted the ball high into the car park with time up, the referee blew for time and Hornets had hung on for the win.

Next week, Hornets face the long trip to Guernsey who have slightly dropped off the pace after initially being amongst the divisional front-runners. If Hinckley can overcome the arduous journey the next few fixtures against mid-table sides give them a real chance to climb the table.

Nick Robinson