Hornets fight back to win from 18-0
IT HAS to be said that those hardy souls who braved the eight hour return trip to Corbridge on Saturday to cheer on the Hornets did so more in hope than expectation.
Unbeaten at home this season and having only lost once away to South Leicester last week when South’s Ricky Aley kicked the home side to victory despite being outscored three trys to one, second placed Tyne were looking to close the gap on leaders Stourbridge at the expense of one of their principal rivals.
It did not escape the notice of the faithful that Tynedale had already beaten the two sides (Sedgeley Park and Sale) who had beaten the Hornets this season.
There was no doubt this was going to be an uphill struggle for the Leicester Road men.
With a line-up of fast and exciting backs, Tyne’s usual game plan is to look to tire the opposition forwards pack and capitalise in the second half. Hinckley’ pack, however, proved fitter and stronger than their previous opponents and it was the Hornets who were able to take advantage of a tiring Tyne side in the final quarter.
Conditions were not conducive to quality rugby, however, with a very strong gusting wind expected to induce errors from both sides.
Joe Wilson kicked off into a howling gale and the Hornets were able to exert some early pressure but it came to nought as Tyne marched up field via a break from Tyne wing man Guy Pike which eventually resulted in Ash Smith putting over a penalty for the home side to take the lead.
An unconverted try from Oli Walker saw Tyne extend their lead and another Smith penalty saw Hinckley going in at the break 13-0 down.
It was all looking a little ominous for the Hornets but at least the wind would be behind them in the second half. The second half did not start well, however. With only 14 men on the field after Tyne No. 8 Scott Powell had been carded, Pike crossed the whitewash from the restart to put Tyne 18 points clear.
This Hinckley side are anything but quitters, however, and with Captain Alex Salt as usual leading from the front, the Hornet’s pack began to exert some pressure.
Their reward came six minutes later when Gaz Turner forced his way over and with Joe Wilson landing the conversion, a glimmer of hope began to appear.
A Wilson penalty on 62 minutes pulled it back to 18-10 and with just 10 to go, Salt forced his way over.
Wilson’s conversion brought Hinckley to within a point.
The comeback was complete when Wilson landed another penalty on 78 minutes to take it to 18-20 and Hinckley played out time to grab a victory which stunned the home crowd.
This was an epic battle between two exceeding- ly well matched sides but with different strengths.
The wind was a great leveller on the day but ultimately it was the kicking of Joe Wilson who did not miss a scoring attempt that won the day for the Hornets.
The Tyne kicker missed both a penalty and conversion attempt.
The win moves Hinckley into second place in the table purely on the basis that the Hornets have beaten Tyne in the one encounter we have had.
The two teams are locked together in second and third place in the table on 34 points having both won seven, both registered six bonus points, and both having a points difference of 88. Stourbridge, however, are widening the gap at the top and now stand 11 points clear at the top. They have yet to visit Hinckley. Next week, it’s Macclesfield at home, kick-off 3.00.