It was a case of top versus bottom as Hinckley Staghounds travelled to Coalville. It had been two weeks since our last game after our home fixture against Birstall the previous Saturday was called off due to a frozen pitch. Conditions were good for this time of year and both teams were up for it.

Coalville kicked off and Hinckley got straight into their attacking patterns. However, a knock on followed by some very weak tackling allowed Coalville to open the scoring. The Coalville 15, who was a threat all afternoon, received an offload after the Hinckley midfield defence had been breached and rounded the covering defence with ease to score. The conversion was successful and the Stags were stung into action.

Hinckley had plenty of possession over the next 10 minutes, but handling errors and poor discipline again proved costly. However, a Hinckley scrum on the Coalville 5 metre line allowed us to reduce the deficit. Michael Parker controlled the ball at the back of the scrum as it drove forward at speed and fell on the ball to score. Kristian Powell missed the conversion and Hinckley were still behind on the scoreboard. They weren’t behind for long as Dom Ames continued his good try-scoring form 2 minutes later, charging over the line for his 8th league try of the season. Powell added the extras for a 12-7 lead.

The Stags added three more tries before half-time to secure the bonus point, playing some excellent rugby in the process. First, Connor Nixon found himself on the end of a flowing first phase move to score a wonderful try after George Marsden’s outside break. Then, Powell’s cross field kick into space found Alfie Whittingham in space, who gathered well to touch down. This was Whittingham’s 2nd try in as many matches after making his debut two weeks ago. Finally, Nixon added to his tally shortly before the half-time whistle with another well taken try. Powell converted one of his three conversions for a 29-7 lead at the interval.

The second half opened with a mass brawl, which allowed Jacob Drabble to sprint unopposed to the try line. Powell was having a rare off-day kicking off the tee as he again failed to add the conversion.

The Stags rung the changes on the 50 minute mark with Thomas Sanderson, Steve Farrell and Dylan Weddle entering the fray for Parker, Drabble and Tom Cox respectively. Farrell become the 50th different player to represent the Stags this season, which says a huge amount about the strength of depth we have in the senior section of the club.

Weddle was straight into the action, sniping around the base of a Coalville scrum and capitalising fully on a Coalville error to score on his first game back after an extended stay on the sidelines. 39-7 in Hinckley’s favour.

Coalville kept coming back into the game and after a spell of pressure scored underneath the posts for a converted try. Cox returned to the field in place of Whittingham as Hinckley looked to kill the game off, but they had to wait until the final two minutes to do so. Charlie Hurst streaked over the line for a well deserved try after an excellent display on his return to the side, with Powell slotting the conversion. However, it was a case of saving the best until last as Nixon completed his hat trick and the scoring for the afternoon. Marsden did most of the running, breaking through the midfield, holding off defenders and tying the full-back in knots to allow Nixon a clean run to the line.

Final score: Coalville 14 Hinckley Staghounds 51.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Marsden and Nixon were again excellent in the centres and their relationship on the field continues to grow in strength. However, after a spell out of the side playing for the U23’s Charlie Hurst takes the award after an all action display. He claimed the vast majority of the kick offs we received and took his try well. He even managed to drag himself off the floor after being on the end of a Ricky Moran hospital pass - cheers skips!

UTS