This Saturday proved a tough day on the road for stags who slumped to their first defeat of the season to Syston RFC.

Due to a cancelled cup fixtures earlier in the season, this game doubled up as both a league and cup game.

The stags started the game with a strong performance for the first 20 minutes, testing the Syston defence with some dominant scrummaging and mauling, this prolonged period of pressure lead to a well worked try which was expertly finished in the corner by Liam Hubbard.

Ben Brogden kicking the extras with an excellent kick from the touch line.

However this unfortunately proved to be the only points Hinckley would go on to score in the game, with some good chances in the first half not quite being executed.

Some I’ll Discipline from the stags led to a penalty kick being scored by Syston which lead to the scores being 3-7 to Hinckley going into half time.

The second half proved a frustrating half with Hinckley racking up a large penalty count. This along with some strong defence and work at the break down meant the stags struggled to maintain field position from which to put the pressure back onto the opposition.

Syston produced a strong 30 minute period from which they tested the Hinckley defence, this prolonged period of pressure lead to Syston scoring two tries, taking the score to 17-7.

With the game hanging in the balance the stags came back strong for the last 10 minutes where they spent a majority of that in the Syston 22.

Syston to their credit managed to hold off the barrage of Hinckley attacks leading to Hinckley’s first loss.

MOM goes to Ed Burgess

The stags now refocus their attention to another massive fixture at home where we look to get back to winning ways against Luctonions.

By Alex Norris