Hinckley U13s Win Nuneaton Festival

Hinckley Under 13s were crowned 2017 Nuneaton Festival winners after three superb performances against Nuneaton, Vipers and previously unbeaten visiting team Bredon from Gloucestershire.

Game 1: Nuneaton 5 v 25 Hinckley

Nuneaton kicked off the first game of the tournament on a fine, sunny April morning, taking the game to Hinckley initially whose defence was solid from the start, with Underwood making an early notable tackle. Hinckley however were first on the score sheet when Drakeford picked up a loose ball from a ruck and darted over the opposition’s try line to take an early 5-0 lead.
Nuneaton took the re-start, handing posession straight back to Hinckley who made good yards through runs from Piela, Fountaine, Underwood and Hutton. Hinckley’s scrums were strong and they continued to show excellent ball retention and, from a scrum on Nuneaton’s five metre line, Drakeford popped up with the ball to scurry over for his, and Hinckley’s, second try of the game, increasing the score to 10-0.
Nuneaton again took the re-start, kicking deep to full back Moore who counter-attacked, taking Hinckley back up to the halfway line. The ball was passed out quickly from a ruck just inside Nuneaton’s half, finding Fountaine on the wing who rounded his opposite number to score Hinckley’s third try, giving the visitors a 15-0 lead. The referee then blew for half-time a few minutes early, which was either because he pressed the wrong button on his stopwatch, or he needed a rest ...
Hinckley did not relent in the second half, Burton making good yards from the kick off, and from a scrum on the halfway line, A. Whittingham found a gap in the opposition’s defence to score try number four, increasing the lead to 20-0.
Nuneaton launched their first serious attack after the re-start but tackles from Underwood, Hurley-Smith, Buckler, Duggins and Wainde stopped them from gaining any decent ground. Hinckley turned over the ball from a ruck just inside their own half and slick hands from Salisbury found Smith in space who sprinted in for Hinckley’s fifth try of the game.
Nuneaton pressured Hinckley again as play re-commenced but they could find no way through their opponents’ determined defence and, after a superb turnover in the ruck by Burton, runs from Buckler, Miller, Toon and Mensforth-Grove took the visitors back into Nuneaton’s 22 metre line.
As the game entered the final few minutes, Nuneaton emerged from the scrum with the ball and shipped it to their big inside centre who found a gap in Hinckley’s defence to score their first and only try of the game. As the game re-started Nuneaton launched a final attack which was ended when Al-Salloum bundled his opposite number into touch to conclude the match with Hinckley comfortable 25-5 winners.

Game 2: Hinckley 35 v 5 Vipers

Hinckley took to the pitch after a short break to face Vipers, with the same referee who had just about recovered from the previous game. Hinckley started slowly but remained solid in defence as Vipers attacked from the kick-off. Vipers were awarded a penalty just inside Hinckley’s half but Hinckley turned over the ball after some solid tackling, allowing Drakeford to break away up to Vipers’ 22 metre line. Hinckley won a clean scrum, passing the ball wide to Fountaine, who was tackled just short of the opposition’s line. But Miller was in support to pick up and drive over for Hinckley’s first try.
Hinckley re-started, kicking the ball deep into their opposition’s half and, from a crunching tackle by Burton, the ball was turned over and passed through the hands of Hurley-Smith to Fountaine who sprinted down the wing to score Hinckley’s second try, increasing the lead to 10-0.
Hinckley’s third try came shortly after as Fountaine made good yards before offloading to Burton who handed off his opposite number superbly to score in the corner.
Vipers came straight back at Hinckley but unyielding tackles from Wainde and Underwood stopped them from making any ground. Vipers resorted to kicking downfield to Piela, who collected the ball and made excellent ground with support from Burton, Miller and A. Whittingham, who offloaded the final pass to Drakeford to score a superb try, taking the score to 20-0.
Hinckley re-started the game by kicking to Vipers, whose attack was curtailed by a great tackle and steal by Drakeford. Hinckley were then awarded a penalty from which Underwood drove forward but was taken into touch to end the first half, Hinckley leading 20-0.
Hinckley kicked off the second half, continuing to close down Vipers with excellent line speed with A. Whittingham making a notable tackle, following which Drakeford made a clean break up to the Vipers’ five metre line. A resulting scrum led to try number five by Smith after crisp passing in the back line, increasing Hinckley’s lead to 25-0.
Hinckley were now totally dominant, attacking Vipers again from the re-start with strong runs from Goodwin and Duggins and, after several phases of excellent ball retention, Burton took a crash ball to power over the try line for Hinckley’s sixth try.
Hinckley’s seventh and final try came soon after the re-start, after a brilliant steal by Hutton and run by Moore, with Underwood in support to ‘splashdown’ in the corner.
Vipers did not give up and turned over the ball after Salisbury and Newitt had made good yards for Hinckley, but came up against solid tackles from Goodwin and Duggins. Vipers did manage a consolation try in the final passage of play when their centre broke through the Hinckley line following a scrum on the halfway line to end the game Hinckley 35-5 Vipers.

Game 3: Hinckley 15 – 0 Bredon
The festival decider came down to the last match of the day after both teams had won their previous two games comfortably.
Hinckley kicked off, Bredon showing their early intent by attacking through their powerful runners but a solid tackle from Salisbury stopped them in their tracks. Hinckley then counter-attacked after a turnover by Drakeford and run by Hutton who was held up just short of the try line. Bredon tried to clear their lines but Hinckley’s line speed and aggresive defence, including crunching tackles from Goodwin and Salisbury, kept them in their own 22.
Hinckley regained the ball which was passed out wide to Fountaine who was also held up short but, from a resulting ruck, Miller took the ball at pace and crashed over to open the score and give Hinckley a 5-0 lead.
Bredon were clearly not used to Hinckley’s level of defence and line speed and Drakeford made good ground from the re-start before being tackled 10 metres short. Bredon again tried to run the ball out using their big centre, this time Piela putting in a great tackle to bring him down. Hinckley continued to pressure Bredon on their own try line and Drakeford stole the ball superbly to score Hinckley’s second try and increase their lead to 10-0.
Bredon launched another attack from the re-start, trying to get the ball out to their dangerous back line, but notable tackles from Smith and Fountaine stopped them yet again. Bredon were also strong in the scrum early on but Hinckley managed to get the ball out quickly and a move in the centre saw A. Whittingham take the ball at pace before being tackled 10 metres short.
Bredon counter-attacked from within their own half, making good yards until fierce tackles from Moore and Buckler stopped them in their stride, to end an intense first half of superb rugby.
Bredon were not happy at half time, their coaches appearing to question the referee as to why Hinckley were getting the better of them!
Bredon kicked off the second half, determined to get back into the game, and looked like they were going to score their opening try until Buckler and Smith made superb try-saving tackles. Hinckley then counter-attacked through runs from Burton and Toon, taking them into Bredon’s half.
The opposition regained the ball, attacking Hinckley again, but Fountaine and Salisbury were on hand to cut down their strong runners. Hinckley thought they had scored their third try through Smith but the ball was alleged to have gone forward. Bredon could not get out of their 22 metre line due to Hinckley’s ferocious defence which left a number of the opposition grounded.
Bredon eventually forced their way up to the halfway line but a sublime steal by Burton led to Smith finding space to break through the opposition’s flailing defence to score Hinckley’s third try and end a fantastic display of rugby. The final score; Hinckley 15-0 Bredon.