Fun in the sun at Harborough

If rugby was a food, this festival was brocolli...not many will admit to liking it 100%, but the result you know will eventually be good for you!

Hinckley's squad was Simmons, Dunne, Causon, Palmer, Stockton, Hicks, Cooper, Stokes, Halka, Marston, and debuts for Billett and Brooks.

Match one was against the eventual tournament winners, Market Harborough 1. Harborough opened with the first try, but were held to a 3-3 scoreline in the first half care of Simmons (1) and Causon (2). Hicks, Palmer and Dunne added tags, but Harborough moved quickly so were few and far between. Second half and Hinckley upped the tagging rate. Cooper came on and made an impact as a sub taking 3 tags, along with Stockton (4). Stockton took two tries and Dunne a further one to finish with a 6-6 final score, Harborough scoring their try with the final play. Unjust rewards for a hard, grinding match.

Match two met with an unknown Olney squad, playing in a grey and pink strip. Simmons, Causon, Marston, Billings (debut) and Dunne all took tags, but with little result. Olney scored 4 first half tries to Hinckley's two (Simmons and Dunne), much down to technical errors. Hinckley could only muster one further try in the second half care of Dunne to Olney's three. Billings and Cooper were the only reasons the scoreline didn't go any higher to Olney. Final score 7-3 to Olney.

Hinckley aimed to banish any more negative thoughts in match three meeting Northampton BBOBs. Hinckley won a quick turnover from a dropped BBOBs ball to take the first try by Stockton. Cooper provided back up tagging and Brooks took his debut tag. Stockton went on to add three more making the first half score 4-2 to Hinckley. Second half and Marston came on to take most tags this half. Stokes added a try, along with a further two from Stockton, assisted by a quick offload from Marston. Too much for BBOBs - final scoreline was 7-4 to Hinckley.

Final pool match and Hinckley met Rushden. Immediately Hinckley forced a 6 tag turnover and released Brooks to score his debut try. Causon added one more and Simmons let noone pass, taking 13 tags this half to give a 2-1 scoreline in our favour. In the second half, we again opened with a 6 tag turnover, Hicks being a casualty of the physical work (off with a bruised face and pride!). Hinckley didnt let up though, taking tries from Billings, Palmer and Marston, making a 5-2 winning scoreline.

Well done to all. Such a shame we didn't progress, but great to see some new faces doing so well and enjoying themselves with their mates in the sun!