Hinckley Entertain Nuneaton

Game 1 saw Hinckley Tigers against Nuneaton 1, Nuneaton also mixed their teams evenly with Nuneaton 1 slightly the stronger team. The Hinckley boys started the game as if they had never had a 2 week break, they ran straight and fast, off loaded and shipped the ball out wide, they also tackled like their lives depended on it. This pressure forced Nuneaton to panic, spill the ball in the tackle, forward pass and numerous knock on’s, giving Hinckley multiple turnovers which enabled them to go into half time 5 tries to 2 up.
The second half was a carbon copy of the first with Hinckley dominating from start to finish. The whole team gelled and worked as a team which proved invaluable, with a further 5 tries to Nuneaton’s 2. A solid team performance by all 8 players Carvell, Cowling, Drakeford, Duggins, Goodwin, Guest, Hurley-Smith and Moore. Try scorers in game 1 were Moore 5, Hurley-Smith 3, Guest 1, and Goodwin 1. Final score Hinckley Tigers 50 - Nuneaton 1 20.

Tigers second game of the morning was against Nuneaton 2. In danger of being complacent after the first game Hinckley Tigers didn’t take their foot off the gas and quickly dominated the game. They kept Nuneaton pinned in their own half most of the game, only allowing Nuneaton to score a couple of quick tries due to uncharacteristic missed tackles. This however was never going to alter the result as the Hinckley boys moved the ball around and scored 5 first half tries. Two for on form Moore, 1 each for Power Houses Duggins & Goodwin, and a first try of the season for ever improving Cowling.

The Second half was much the same with Hinckley dominating the game, although a lapse in concentration for a couple of minutes allowed Nuneaton to score their only 2 tries of the second half. Hinckley woke up again and started to demonstrate how mini rugby should be played, they broke through the defensive line and shipped the ball out wide, this coupled with 7 tackle turnovers resulted in 3 second half tries for Hinckley. One each for Goodwin & Hurley-Smith, and the try of the morning coming from a run by Cowling who timed his pass perfectly to Moore for him to score in the corner. Final score Hinckley Tigers 40 -Nuneaton 2 20.

An excellent morning of Rugby by Hinckley Tigers which was a pleasure to watch.

Game 1 started with Hinckley Lions looking like there had never been a 2 week enforced break. Nuneaton were a well drilled, large and strong squad who didn't phase our boys. Tackler of the day Calver started as he meant to carry on putting some thumping tackles in flooring their large players time and time again. Buckler once again on form and proving a force to be reckoned with for the opposition. Hinckley put good pressure on the Nuns with Barnsey making a good break popping the ball up to a quick sprinting Morrissey making her way to the line only for Nuneaton to up their defence. Hinckley upped their own defensive skills whilst Nuneaton continued to put pressure on our line but our character didn't give up and we ended the first half a very rare 0-0. The second half started with the kids carrying on their frustrating sideways running but luckily we finally had a score from Barnes sliding in for the first try of the match. Burton came on in second half and his first touch of the ball saw him making lots of space for his team mates to apply the pressure. Mensforth-Grove having lots of ball time taking it into contact. Nuneaton soon answered back with a well fought for try of their own. Hinckley continued to get stuck in with the tackling, as usual Barnes, Burton, Buckler, and Salisbury getting throughly stuck in. Good running by BMG popping the ball to a determined Burton who shrugged off 3 players to score the home sides second of the day. Once again, end to end rugby saw Nuneaton score again, levelling 2-2 but Salisbury hadn't finished yet and ran the length of the pitch ignoring the opposition to finalise the scores at a very hard fought 3-2.

Second game of the morning for the Lions saw them swapping pitches to face another large squad. Very unusual non existent tackling from the home side saw 2 tries being quickly scored by Nuns, with the wind behind them they looked like they were going to capitalise on Hinckley's poor form by sticking another load of tries on us but we managed to hold them to a 1-4 half time loss with Salisbury touching down for Hinckley. The story of the first half was one of turnovers and dreadful tackling which made a very uncomfortable half to watch. Second half started in much the same way by the opposition scoring straight away with the home side seemingly ushering them through to their try line. Hinckley then started to pull themselves together with Burton trying his hardest to score again only to be tackled into touch just before the line. Morrissey making good long yardage and Buckler and Calver putting in some try saving tackles. Nuneaton predictably kept giving the ball to their biggest player who took 3 of our players to get him down. Burton and speedy straight running Buckler touched down again with strong and focused running but there wasn't enough time left on the clock to make up the deficit and scores finished 3-7.