Hurst happy despite loss to Hinckley

BROADSTREET boss Paul Hurst declared himself satisfied with his team’s pre-season and ready for their National Two South debut next weekend.

The head coach’s comments came after two late Joe Wilson penalties enabled Hinckley to snatch a 32-29 win from an exciting pre-season friendly at the Ivor Preece Field.

“Moving on from our game at Coventry last week we set some targets, and tonight was another good run-out for the boys. We’re trying to move into a style of play suitable for National Two, and I felt we hit those targets tonight, and we’ll take a lot of positives from it.”

Hurst’s team led 29-26 with five minutes remaining, with both clubs having claimed four tries. However, Hinckley finished stronger, and having drawn the sting from Street’s excellent front five, they enjoyed plenty of late territory.

This pressure eventually drew two penalties, both of which former Nuneaton centre Wilson slotted sweetly.

The Leicestershire visitors, who campaign in the parallel National Two North, had earlier begun at a high tempo, scoring three tries in the first quarter.

Winger Callum Dacey got underway with a 70 metre interception, before fly half Callum Rowe and the speedy Conor Bullivant also crossed. Wilson added two conversions.

Lee Chapman kicked an early penalty for the hosts, and Luke Truslove applied the finishing touches to a lineout drive for their opening try.

This made it 19-8 to Hinckley after 23 minutes, but Street survived a spell with 14 players while Nick Thatcher was in the sinbin, before making their scrum dominance count by claiming a penalty try.

And the hosts went into half time with the lead thanks to Chapman’s conversion of a smash-and-grab raid. Home No.9 Thatcher reacted quickest to an overthrown lineout, before lock Mike Worthington showed the defence a clean pair of heels from 40 metres.

Hinckley struck next through Bullivant’s second try and Wilson’s third conversion, before the hosts claimed a second driving lineout score – scored by flanker Nick Rhodes and converted by Chapman.

After 22 scoreless minutes, Street looked set to narrowly win until Wilson’s two late kicks.