Hinckley travelled to Old Halesonians with the chance to make next weeks home clash with Peterborough Lions irrelevant in the chase for the league play off and runner up slot.
Unfortunately it wasn’t the result they craved for as the visitors slipped to a 17-10 reverse, narrowly beaten in the last seconds of the game.

It took virtually the first half for the visitors to wake up and challenge the home side's defensive pressure and attacking intent. A penalty and conversion by Old Hales Chris Hooper combined with a fine try from Carl Robinson put the home side in the driving seat with a 10-0 lead after the first quarter. Gradually Hinckley assumed the standard of play that they have been used to throughout the season with the driving play of Tom Morris, Luke Coltman and Alex Salt establishing an attacking platform. Both scrummage and line out were beginning to tire out the opposition forwards as Hinckley upped the pace. Old Hales saw yellow at a scrummage and Hinckley took advantage with the resulting rolling maul marching the home pack over their own line wide on the right with Morris claiming the touchdown. Mark Lord was unable to add the extras as his conversion was held up by the unpredictable blustery wind.

Half time saw the home side holding a 10-5 advantage.

Due to the vagary of the wind it was difficult to decide which team had any advantage as Hooper missed a straightforward penalty attempt to stretch the Old Hales lead. The leagues meanest defence kept out a series of Old Hales attacks and booming touch finders from Lord enabled Hinckley to break out and threaten the home side. Old Hales, due to a combination of a yellow card and a blood injury to front row players had to resort to uncontested scrummages which for a ten minute period negated Hinckley’s power up front. Disappointingly the referee allowed the home side to continue with a full compliment when one player should have been withdrawn.
He did, however, yellow card the other front row player soon after and again Hinckley took advantage with another forward surge to present hooker Coltman with the touchdown. Lord had the chance to give Hinckley the lead, but again his conversion was blown narrowly wide.
Locked at 10 -10 the arm wrestle continued although Hinckley did well to repulse a series of Old Hales raids and then attack themselves with Dave Peck and Sam Greasley combining on the left with the latter being bundled into touch just short of the home try line.
Rich Harris replaced Josh Smith and Hinckley lost Greasley to a yellow card in another defensive
success as a draw seemed the obvious conclusion to the game. Hinckley were camped on the home line and with Lord in the pocket to strike the winning drop goal disaster struck as a Hinckley player was isolated, stripped of the ball and Old Hales proceeded to run the length of the field as Hooper scored both the try and conversion to break the visitors hearts. The referee immediately blew the final whistle as the home side and their vociferous crowd celebrated.

Obviously a disappointment to Hinckley’s play off hopes, but it was always going to be tough at Wassell Grove Lane. The home side and supporters don’t make it easy and always put the referee under considerable pressure as they did yesterday.
However, onwards and upwards as Hinckley entertain Peterborough Lions next week at Leicester Road for the play off decider for the right to travel to either Sale or Sandal for the play off proper.
Hinckley hold a narrow two point margin over the Lions, but realistically both teams will be looking for a victory to consolidate their position and challenge their northern counterparts.
Sale and Sandal battle it out at Heywood Road at the same time with the losers hosting the Midlands play off winners

The future is still bright and its Black and Amber.

Incidentally at the players end of season dinner last night Dylan Weddle, Dave Peck and Alex Salt took the 1st XV awards.