The Stags returned to league action this weekend. The squad which had not played for the last 6 weeks were buzzing to be back playing.

Selection was as expected during these times with injuries and isolations taking its tole on the club like most teams in the UK

Stags had two Debuts Sam in the centre and Arran at scrum half and where both confident and excited to make the trip to Birmingham for the 2nd TIME this season.

Bournville failing to travel and honour the fixture earlier on in the season still in the minds of the players but we wont get into politics.......................

The game started as you would expect from 2 teams that looked very rusty and slow out of the blocks, handling errors and individual errors swamped the early part of the game.

Hinckley broke the deadlock first with a well finished try in the corner by Liam Hubbard after some good team play and carrying by the stags. Conversion missed

Bournville struck back with a penalty in front of the posts, the game evenly matched at this point

The first half continued to be very stop and start with neither team stamping any authority on the game. Further trys from Stevo (converted) and George Marsden (not converted) and Bournville also going over for a converted try meant the teams went in at half time with scores at 10-19 to the stags

A very poor game so far and not one for the spectators

Stags knew that they needed to change things up in the 2nd half.

From the kick off it was evident that both teams must have received stern words from the coaching teams at half time as both teams upped their games and we finally started to see some nice phase play and good attack play by both teams

A scrum 10 meters out gave the stags there first scoring opportunity which was taken with a bulldozing pick and go from Morton who had moved to Number 8. Conversion missed

Next try came from a great kick chase from debutant Arron Kirk who collected his own kick from the half way line to dot down for another unconverted try.

With the scores know sitting at 10-31 to the stags it looked like they may run away with it ..........but true to stags of late the tables turned and Bournville started to move the ball around well and make yards with what seemed every time they got the ball. Bournville were now back in charge and brought the scores back to 22-31 after two scores coming from good breaks through what seemed a very leaky unorganised stags defence.

Stags did manage to hang on and put the game to bed with a beautiful try from Lewis Gardner who ran a lovely arced line and ghosted through the gap to score underneath the posts

Lewis stepped up to take the kick but must have thought skipper Harvey had asked him to kick for touch as what was seen next was a thing of beauty. After scoring a fine try the icing on the cake would have been to convert your own try for a nice 7 points but ......... the pressure must have got to young Gardner as what should have been a dead cert 2 points conversion in front of the posts turned out to be a super kick to touch which was closer to the corner flag than the posts !!!!!!!

Shortly after the final whistle went. Score 22-36 to Hinckley

The Stags performed better in the 2nd half but realise this is a performance they need to forget and put behind them. The physical side was shown by the team but all other areas need to be improved.

MOM goes to James Morton who was solid all day with some great carries and some massive hits

The Stags now prepare for Syston next week for a league and cup double which they know they will need to raise their game for

Up the Stags