The Stags made the trip across Leicestershire to play Ashby for our first away fixture of 2023. While Hinckley occupy the top spot in the league, Ashby are positioned in the bottom half. However, they beat their closest rivals Coalville in their last game, so we were expecting a tough match. That is exactly what we got.

Hinckley kicked off with the breeze at their backs and the pitch heavy underfoot. An Ashby mistake from the kick off gave the Stags good field position from the first scrum of the game and full back Callum Dacey was held up short of the try line.
Hinckley kept possession for numerous phases and the ball was fed to Alfie Whittingham, making his Stags debut on the right wing, who finished well wide on the right. Powell’s conversion was blown wide, but a great start with only 2 minutes on the clock.

Hinckley continued to dominant proceedings and when a Dacey 50-22 gave us a line out deep in Ashby territory, the rolling maul took over. The line out was won cleanly and the maul was driven 15 metres with Dom Ames benefitting to score his 6th league try of the season. Powell’s well struck conversion took the score to 12-0.

The Stags had plenty of possession and territory during the first half an hour, but a combination of poor ball retention, ill-discipline and good Ashby defence kept Hinckley at bay. We lost Tom Robinson during this period to an ear laceration and possible concussion, replaced by Jacob Drabble, and Connor Nixon had the ball knocked out of his grasp as he crossed the try line.
This galvanised the home side and they took advantage shortly before half-time. The Ashby 12 broke the Hinckley defensive line and raced untouched 60m to the try line. Dacey tackled him as he crossed the line, but the ball was grounded for a fine individual score. The extras were added and the half-time whistle blew for a 12-7 scoreline in Hinckley’s favour.

Neil Farthing replaced Craig Bresland in the front row at half-time for his first Stags appearance of the season and a welcome return from injury. Hinckley started the half well, but the error continued as we tried to force a breakthrough.
Ashby’s fly half was controlling the game well and his deep kicking was relieving pressure and giving the home side good field position. Will Spiers entered the field in place of Whittingham on the hour mark, with Nixon moving to the wing. Three minutes later Ashby were level when the ball was kicked in behind Nixon and the Ashby left winger won the footrace to touchdown just before the dead ball line. The conversion was missed, but the scores were tied at 12-12.

With Hinckley potentially looking at their second defeat of the season, the coaching team on the sidelines were looking for a reaction. The reaction came in the final 12 minutes. Dacey and Alex Norris started to make inroads down the left touchline, Neil Farthing and Luke Johnson were starting to carry more, Tom Cox was making yards around the edge of the breakdowns, George Marsden and Will Spiers were taking the ball to the line.
This renewed effort paid off when we were just able to keep the ball in play on the left of the Ashby 22. While a small scuffle broke out, the ball was fed to Ames who powered over for his second try of the game. Powell converted for a 7 point lead. 19-12.

The Stags were now pushing for the bonus point and it came when Drabble picked up close to the line and drove over after strong running close to the breakdown had got us to within inches of the try line. Powell’s conversion scraped over with the aid of the crossbar for a 26-12 lead which we never relinquished.

The Stags probably played better than the week before, but were less clinical and were pushed all the way by a tough Ashby team who are better than their league position suggests. However, we need to be better over the coming weeks with some big games on the horizon against the other teams in the top four.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Tom Cox - dangerous throughout, making several strong runs around the pitch.

UTS