Hinckley U13s (Hopefully) Progress to County Cup Finals

The LRFU had introduced a new “fairplay” scoring mechanism – so a pre-match briefing was held to reiterate where points could be deducted, which included players and parents abusing the officials, negative attitude and comments, smoking on the sidelines and permed hair.

Game 1: Hinckley 30 v 0 South Leicester

Playing on the pitch furtherst from the toilets and refreshments (and affectionately called ‘The Bog’), South Leicester kicked off straight into the hands of Barnes who made good ground before passing to Drakeford, who subsequently fed the ball to Smith to run in Hinckley’s first try of the game.
Hinckley attacked South Leicester again following the re-start, and won the first scrum of the game convincingly which led to Drakeford darting over the line for Hinckley’s second try. Hinckley became dominant in all areas of the game from early on and another fine move saw the ball passed through the hands of Al-Salloum and Fray, who was tackled just short of the line. From the resulting ruck, Hutton came out with the ball and dived over to give Hinckley a deserved 15-0 lead at half-time.
Hinckley kicked off the second half after making a few substitutions and surging runs from Toon and Duggins set up Piela for Hinckley’s fourth try.
Hinckley won a scrum against the head following the re-start from which Salisbury made good yards before passing to Burton who was bundled into touch five metres short of the South Leicester line. Hinckley stole the ball from another ruck through Hutton, who fed the ball to Burton to run in try number five for Hinckley.
South Leicester again kicked off straight into the hands of Barnes from the re-start and he galloped down the wing handing off several flailing South Leicester tackles to score Hinckley’s sixth try and end the game with a comfortable 30-0 win.

Game 2: Hinckley 40 v 0 Market Harborough

Market Harborough kicked off but sent the ball straight into touch. The resulting line out enabled Toon to go on a surging run from which the ball was passed through several pairs of Hinckley hands, Goodwin eventually scooping up the ball from a ruck to score Hinckley’s first try.
Market Harborough restarted kicking the ball straight into the hands of Duggins, who made a strong run deep into the opposition’s half. Hinckley were dominant in the first scrum of the game from which the ball was passed out to Salisbury then eventually finding Piela to score Hinckley’s second try.
Strong runs from Goodwin and Drakeford followed the re-start and a great off-load ‘out the back door’ found Smith who ran in Hinckley’s third try, increasing their lead to 15-0.
Market Harborough again decided to kick off from the re-start from which Barnes and Burton made noteable yards, the ball eventually being passed out to Al-Salloum on the left wing to score Hinckley’s fourth try.
Hinckley turned the ball over after some great rucking by Burton in the last play of the first half and, following a strong run by Duggins, Buckler off-loaded to Drakeford to score try number five, giving Hinckley a 25-0 half-time lead.
Hinckley again made a few changes for the second half which they proceded to dominate. Hinckley won another scrum against the head in Market Harborough’s half, from which the ball was passed out from Giles to Whittingham L (Lassie) who scored Hinckley’s sixth try.
Market Harborough had a brief spell of possesion but Hinckley were strong in defence and, following a run by Al-Salloum, Goodwin appeared with the ball to dive over in the corner for Hinckley’s seventh try.
In the last play of the game following a strong run by Miller, Burton was held up just short of the line. Market Harborough’s clearance kick was gathered by full back Moore, who scored a superb solo try from inside his own half to end the game Hinckley 40 – 0 Market Harborough.

Game 3: Hinckley 5 v 10 Ashby
Hinckley knew the final game of the day would be a much tougher match against their old nemesis Ashby, who had also won their first two games comfortably.
The early stages of the game were evenly matched until Hinckley turned over an Ashby scrum from which Drakeford darted over to score the opening try. Hinckley were awarded a penalty following the re-start and looked to pass the ball out wide, but unfortunately an interception by Ashby resulted in the equalising try.
Hinckley continued to pressure Ashby from the re-start and Toon was held up just short of the line. Ashby cleared their lines but some great rolling mauls by the Hinckley forwards took them close to Ashby’s try line but again they were held up just short as the first half came to an end.
The second half started very competitively with both teams demonstrating strong defence. Hinckley were stronger in the scrum from which Whittingham A made good ground before passing to Drakeford who was held up just short. Hinckley had the upper hand in terms of possesion and territory but gave away a penalty just inside the Ashby half from which the opposition passed the ball out wide to score the winning try in the last play of the game.
The final score of a well fought contest: Hinckley 5 – 10 Ashby.