Captain is worth his Salt as team win big
HINCKLEY RFC finally delivered a win against one of the top sides on Saturday, with a commendable 26-5 victory at Sedgley Park, writes Chris Campbell.
Following a frustrating December where Hinckley struggled to overcome the league’s leaders, this was a well deserved win and sets a platform which the squad can now try and push from.
Both Ewan Bartlett and Callum Dacey made their 50th appearances, while Mark Lord returned to the number 10 shirt for the first time since the victory over South Leicester in November.
Hinckley started brightly and scored a try after just five minutes with captain Alex Salt over for his seventh of the season, converted by Joe Glover.
Sedgley Park had a sustained period of pressure - mainly caused by Hinckley’s indiscipline in midfield - but could not get over the line.
The visitors responded well and seized on the opportunity to score. Under penalty advantage, the backs made some high risk passes which paid off and Mitch Lamb finished excellently in the right hand corner despite the efforts of two home defenders.
Glover couldn’t add the conversion, but he did see a yellow card on the stroke of halftime for a deliberate knock-on.
Down a man, Sedgley Park had their best period of the game at the start of the second half, scoring their only try after 43 minutes.
They dominated the next 20 minutes, but it came to nothing as Hinckley’s defence stayed strong.
The home side saw the yellow card which opened up an opportunity for Hinckley, and it was taken. With 11 minutes to go Steve Harvey went over from a line-out, which Joe Glover converted.
The away side then dominated territory well to run the clock down, but Mark Lord missed a penalty shot at goal.
Hinckley continued to push for the bonus point and were rewarded in the 80th minutes when Glen Murray hacked through a loose ball to score.
Mark Lord converted with the final kick of the game to seal all five points.
The result takes Hinckley to eighth and next week they host Chester at Leicester Road.