With 23 players unavailable for selection, it was always going to prove a big ask for a Hornets squad which continues to be ravaged by injury in a season that is fast proving to be a massive disappointment for the Leicester Road men. The team that ran out at Merton Lane included three further debutants and the 43rd man to appear for the Hornets this season. But this was still a game that Hinckley could, and perhaps, should have won.

With Canterbury down to 14 men for virtually all the second half, and Hornets having wrestled dominance in the set piece, things were looking good for the Hinckley men when Shae Nixon picked up a loose ball on halfway and streaked away to score a bonus point try under the posts and stretch the Hornets lead to 11 points with 25 minutes left on the clock. But two tries in four minutes for Canterbury, both of which were converted, gave the home side a narrow lead which Hornets could not overturn in the final quarter.

The second of those tries turned the game. Hornets were pressing for a score of their own having worked their way up the pitch from halfway with some lovely, controlled rugby, but with the line open and a score seeming inevitable, a loose pass from Joe Wilson to the wing 5m from the Canterbury line was picked off by Canterbury winger Guy Hilton who ran the length of the field to score under the posts. It was a devastating blow for Hinckley and one from which they did not recover.

‘It was a very disappointing result,’ commented DOR Scott Hamilton after the game. ‘We got ourselves into a position to win the game, something I was very pleased with given the lack of experience in the squad, but we couldn’t hold onto the lead.’

‘The interception try was a killer blow but for me over the whole game, the big difference was the breakdown. Canterbury were more confrontational, more aggressive there and we lost too much possession from turnovers. That’s something we will need to work on this week. We also again conceded tries to rolling mauls. That needs to improve before the Lions game next week’

There were again plenty of positives for Hornets. Ben Pointon was again outstanding, Andy Weaver turned in another dominant performance, and Sam Greening’s carrying continues to improve at pace. Recent signing Iestyn Scott looked to be a very positive acquisition, despite playing much of the game out of position, Alex Salt played a captain’s game, and it was difficult to pin-point anyone who played badly. But ultimately, the team fell short, and the travelling support undertook the long ride home with a pervading sense of frustration.

Canterbury had opened the scoring after 10 minutes with the first of two tries from rolling mauls by hooker Billy Young. From the kick-off, however, they were reduced to 14 men when prop Danny Heriot was carded for a high tackle on Pointon.

Hornets took advantage after Canterbury had been penalised deep in their own 22m and Hornets opted to scrum. The scrum was held but the ball eventually found it’s way into the hands of Sam Greening who bulldozed his way over to level the score.

A superb 50-22 kick from Joe Wilson gave Hornets a line-out deep in the Canterbury 22m and Aaron Florestein touched down from the resultant catch and drive to put Hornets in front.

A penalty on the half hour from Canterbury full-back Kyan Braithwaite in front of the posts brought the home side to within 2, and when Young grabbed a second try form a rolling maul five minutes later it looked as if Hornets would go in at the interval behind.

However, a Hinckley line-out just inside the Canterbury half saw Ben Pointon make a brilliant break down the blindside and make the line. On what proved a difficult day for kickers, Wilson managed to notch the conversion from out wide and Hornets went in at the break 17-13 in front.

On the return, what looked like an outbreak of handbags around the halfway line resulted in a yellow card for Wilson while Canterbury centre Tom Best received a red for an alleged headbutt.

That should have turned the game in Hornets favour but as so happens in situations where a team loses a man, Canterbury found the motivation to thwart the opposition. The Nixon try aside which was converted by Wilson, Hornets could not find a way through some resolute Canterbury defending, while the City men grabbed their two tries. Salt was rubbed into the wounds when Braithwaite added a penalty with the last kick of the game to take the final score to 30-24.

Thoughts now turn to the local derby next week against Leicester Lions. The Lions season to date has proved far more productive than Hinckley’s and they currently sit in 6th position, 21 points clear of Hornets. ‘But, as we all know, form and position count for little in local derbies, and we have half a team returning from injury next week,’ commented Hamilton. ‘We’ll have no difficulty in motivating the lads for the game. We are really looking forward to it.’

Kick-off is 2.00pm at Westleigh Park.

Nick Robinson