Hinckley U9s remain unbeaten at home after Market Harborough fixture

Match 1 – Hinckley Lions 20-0 Market Harborough

The match started steadily, with a fair amount of possession for both teams. Hinckley drew first blood however, when Catt took possession on the touchline and ran half of the pitch just inches from touch for his opener. Again play returned to equal possession, before Smith received the ball from lineout, and began a phenomenal driving run to the try line, leaving Harborough players scattered in his wake just before half time.

The second half wasn’t underway long before Hinckley could smell the victory. Hicks ripped the ball from the Harborough maul passed it out to Burton who did not need much encouragement - sprinting three quarters of the pitch to the line for Hinckley’s third. The final try was a carbon copy of Smith’s first, taking the ball from the lineout and driving down the blind side his second.

The closest Harborough came to a try was a five metre scrum awarded in the last minute, but Hinckley defended brilliantly, talking the ball to the halfway line before the whistle blew for full time.

Match 2 – Hinckley Tigers 15-15 Market Harborough

The second match was a much closer affair, with Market Harborough giving Hinckley a run for their money. The visitors took the initiative in the first half with two tries to Hinckley’s one, scored by Sansome, who put in some fearsome tackles and consistently ripped and turned over Harborough. Grewcock too proved his usefulness in defence with some strong tackles of his own.

The second half saw an aggressive Hinckley performance, with Sansome and Colloby determined to rip the ball from Harborough hands. Sansome scored his second to draw level with the visitors, before Harborough took the lead once more from the re-start. In the closing minutes however, Hubbard found himself in receipt of a great pass before he ran the ball in for Hinckley’s equaliser and the final try of the game.

Match 3 – Hinckley Lions 10–5 Market Harborough

Harborough opened the scoring in the third game as they entered the Hinckley half and drove the ball to within 5 yards of the line. As a hole appeared in Hinckley’s defensive line, Harborough passed out of the maul and capitalised to score. The first half closed with the single Harborough try.

Smith once more rescued Hinckley in the second half as he took possession 15 yards out, drove for the line and scored with two or three Harborough players still hanging off him. It looked as though the match would finish a draw as the closing seconds of the game ticked by, but Inman and Smith linked up very well. Inman passed out to Smith who ran the blind side again as the Harborough players were pushing him towards touch. Inman stepped back in however and added weight to Smith’s drive countering Harborough’s attempts to hold out for the draw. The pair tumbled over the line for Smith to score the winner in the closing second of the game.

Match 4 – Hinckley Tigers 10-10 Market Harborough

The final match saw both teams determined not to concede. Sansome, Colloby and Lockett this time shone in the tackling stakes, with Lockett scoring Hinckley’s only try of the first half, before Harborough equalised to ensure they stayed in it. The second half too, saw both teams battle it out with nothing to separate them until Harborough took the lead. With their unbeaten home run in the balance, however, Hinckley were determined not to let the visitors take the win. The final play of the game saw Davis receive the ball and embark on a weaving run through the Harborough defence, scoring the eqauliser and ensuring the unbeaten home run stayed intact.