We came, We saw, We conquered!!

Hinckley U10s had planned to travel to Kettering with their strongest squad in preparation for the Prima Cup, but as per usual the best laid plans when array due to half term holidays & a growing injury list! This resulted in 5 players being drafted into the squad to cover those missing players.

The day started in usual Hinckley style with lads still half a sleep and in third gear! Their first match was against our hosts Kettering 1 who put up a spirited defence, Hinckley kept hammering away at the Kettering line but were repelled time after time, then a moment of quick hands and good running culminated in the ball passed out to Jake Walton to cross over for the only try of the game. Final score 1-0.

The second game saw a brighter more dangerous Hinckley, who started offloading the ball better in attack but were even more impressive in defence giving their opposition Towchester no room or real ball to play, the centre, Rheims Handford, got a brace try's and one for Daniel Thomas who throughout the day battered away at defences with his direct running . The game ended with Hinckley winning 3-0 and guaranteeing them a place in the semi finals, the only question was, would it be as winners of their pool or runners up?

So into the final group game of the day, this saw us up against old Northamptonians. The lads now fully awake and really up for it, Hinckley quickly put their 1st try on the board but whilst getting their breath back Old Northamptonians hit back from the restart with a direct hard ran try, this was a test now to see how Hinckley would react to conceding their first try of the day? The response was both quick and brutal with Hinckley running in try's from five different players Rheims Handford (2) Jake Walton (2) Daniel Thomas, Leo Connelly & Miller Warland with Northampton players down all over the pitch and tempers running high the final whistle couldn't come soon enough but left Hinckley topping their group with their best score tally of the day 7-1 .

The Semi Final - Hinckley found themselves up against Stamford who where runners up in the other group. Hinckley were quick to put points on the board and never looked troubled some good attacking rugby and along with superb defensive organisation and application resulted in Hinckley going through to the final 6-0 with try's from Daniel Thomas (2), Leo Connelly (2), Will Mitchell & Jake Walton. The only real drama to effect Hinckley was off the field when the team tent took off and resembled a kite, resulting in yet more bent tent poles !!!

The Final….
Hinckley v Kettering 1, a rerun of the first game. Kettering 1 had beat a good Melton Mowbray side (winners of the other group) to be in the final.
This time though Hinckley were wide awake and with great all round play Hinckley were too strong and organised for Kettering. Kettering only seeing Hinckley’s half of the pitch a handful of times through the whole game as the defence was just too strong for them to break. Try's coming from 5 different Hinckley players just shows the pace, strength and team work put in by the boys try's by Jake Walton, Rheims Handford, Daniel Thomas, Leo Connelly & Will Mitchell. This saw them through to the final whistle winning 5-0.
All round a great day of rugby and the lads first trophy of the 14/15 season.

Well done to all the players, each player contributed well to the team and gave all the spectators a good day of rugby.

Report By D Mitchell