Hinckley entertained Sutton Coldfield at Leicester Road in their latest game in N3M determined to consolidate second position in the league and score a few points in the process. Sutton have been dangerous opponents in the past so a highly competitive game was in the offing to entertain a good crowd.

Hinckley kicked off against both wind and slope getting immediately into their stride. Sutton were pressurised and pinned back in their own half for long periods of time. After a series of scrummages and penalties close to the visitors line Sam Greasley opened the scoring with a well taken try wide out on the left after the forwards had been held up twice over the Sutton line. A perfectly good try had actually been scored beforehand, but the referee was unsighted. Mark Lord was narrowly wide with the conversion. More home pressure and a Sutton yellow card set the tone for the match as the visitors conceded a penalty which Lord converted for a home lead of 8-0.
Sutton relieved the pressure with a long range wind assisted penalty of their own from centre Alex White, but were unable to get out of their own half consistently as Hinckley tightened the noose. Dynamic forward play with Matt Fearn, Ben Avent, Tom Morris, Mark Deaville, Luke Coltman and Alex Salt to the fore demoralised Sutton and it was no surprise that Morris used his considerable strength to score Hinckley’s second try after his colleagues had softened up the visitors defence. Lord converted for a 15-3 home lead.
Sutton could only use the wind to relieve pressure and were rewarded with White’s second penalty on the stroke of half time as the home side lead 15-6.

Hinckley immediately continued where they left off this time with the stiff breeze and the slope with them. Three tries in ten minutes broke Sutton’s resistance to effectively win the game, gain the bonus point and move the home side out to a 36 -6 lead. Firstly, Coltman controlled a rolling maul from a line out to touch down, secondly Greasley added his second try on the left after great work by Dave Peck and Morris added his second on the end of a 20 metre rolling maul which left the visitors defence in tatters. Lord converted all three tries with a fine display of place kicking.
On the hour Morris added his third try as Sutton disintegrated again while Alex Salt got in on the act to score two tries, both breaking from the base of the scrum in classic number 8 style. Lord added all three conversions for a home lead of 57 points to 6 with ten minutes left.
Strangely Sutton came more into the game and the fleet footed Nathan Birchall broke out of defence and threatened briefly. Any Sutton pressure was, however, nullified as Lord’s booming touch finders put them back in their own 22 metre area on more than a number of occasions.
Sutton did score a consolation converted try at the death for a final score of Hinckley 57 points Sutton Coldfield 13 points.

Probably the most complete 80 minutes display from Hinckley so far this season. Total forward mastery of the opposition and some crisp handling from the back division. A mean defence (still the leagues meanest), a league bonus point and a hatful of points scored on the day from an increasingly confident Hinckley side. The news that close rivals Peterborough Lions had succumbed 3-31 at home to South Leicester put the icing on the cake. Still further challenges to overcome in the pursuit of the play off promotion position, but on the evidence shown today all is to play for!

Lichfield visit Leicester Road next week as Hinckley look to overturn the memory of the narrow 17-16 away loss earlier in the season. Kick off now 3pm.