Drakeford gets ball rolling as U14s cruise to victory
HINCKLEY U14s, County Cup finalists, were back to their brilliant best as they blew away two touring sides in a tri-tournament played on the stadium pitch on a pleasantly warm spring morning.
Game 1: Hinckley 35 – 0 Wharfedale: Hinckley took on Wharfedale in the opening match and immediately went on the offensive with strong runs by Underwood, Jacques, Moore, Golding and Toon.
The ball was recycled and passed to Fountaine in space who was brought down five metres short of the try line, but Drakeford was on hand to pick up the loose ball and dart over to give Hinckley an early 5-0 lead as the conversion drifted wide.
Hinckley’s second try came immediately after the restart, Drakeford making the initial break with Allen in support, who danced his way through the Wharfedale defence from the halfway line to score. The conversion was missed but Hinckley had extended their lead to 10-0.
Further tries were scored by Jacques who powered through from the halfway line to score, Moore who burst through for Hinckley’s fourth score of the morning, and Drakeford to score his second and Hinckley’s fifth try of the game, taking the half-time score to 25-0.
Hinckley brought on all their replacements for the second half and went back on the offensive through a bruising run by A. Whittingham.
Hinckley’s dominant pack won another scrum against the head and runs by Giles, Drakeford, Smith and Hutton took the black and ambers deep into Wharfedale’s half. Wharfedale cleared their lines and counter-attacked, only to be met with solid tackles from Buckler and Duggins, before L. Whittingham intercepted a loose pass with A. Whittingham in support who was tackled five metres short of the try line.
Wharfedale were awarded a penalty and kicked downfield, only to find full-back Moore who juggled the ball several times before carving through the tiring Wharfedale defence to score the opening try of the second half and give Hinckley a commanding 30-0 lead.
Hinckley’s seventh and final try came shortly after, Barnes making good ground with Drakeford in support who passed to L. Whittingham in space but he was tackled into touch metres short of the line. Hinckley stole the ball from the ensuing lineout and Goodwin bulldozed his way over to score. The conversion fell short and the final score was 35-0. Game 2: Hinckley 67 – 0 Stone Hinckley remained on the pitch for the second match, taking on a depleted touring side from Stone RFC who had to borrow a few willing players from Wharfedale.
Stone kicked off and Hinckley went immediately on the offensive, runs from A.Whittingham, Goodwin and Jacques taking them into the opposition’s 22.
The black and ambers’ first try came following a sublime break by Allen whose superb “out of the back-door” offload found Moore who cantered over the line to give Hinckley an early 5-0 lead.
Hinckley piled on the points with Jacques running at pace in midfield and crashing through to score under the posts, 12 – 0.
Smith’s supporting run was rewarded with a final pass on Stone’s 22 metre line to burst through and score, taking the scoreline to 17-0.
Allen touched down under the posts, converting his own try to extend Hinckley’s lead to 24-0.
Stone had no answer as Hinckley continued to play champagne rugby, Burton crashing over for another try after breaks by Jacques, Moore and Drakeford, the score now 29-0.
Hinckley were relentless and scored again after Allen kicked through for Jacques, who gathered the ball and powered over the try line to further increase their lead to 34-0.
The final try of the first half followed breaks by Jacques, Moore and Drakeford, Buckler finally forcing his way over the line from two metres out. Allen converted, taking the half-time score to Hinckley 41-0 Stone.
Burton picked up from the base of a scrum five metres out and extended his “go-go-gadget” arm to score the opening try of the second period and increase the black and ambers’ lead to 46-0.
Hinckley attacked again from the re-start, Buckler taking a catch superbly and forcing his way over the half-way line.
Hinckley finally broke through Stone’s dogged defence, Barnes scoring under the posts after strong runs by Burton and Goodwin.
Allen converted, taking the score line to 53-0.
Hinckley’s tenth try followed some awesome work by the forwards, maintaining possession through excellent handling and support play, taking the black and ambers back into the opposition’s 22 before Drakeford darted over to score. Allen converted superbly from out wide, increasing Hinckley’s lead to 60-0.
Hinckley’s final score came shortly after, Underwood leaping over from a ruck following breaks by Golding and Dewfield . Another fantastic conversion from Allen on the touchline took the final score to Hinckley 67-0 Stone.
Hinckley were undeniably back to their best and thoroughly deserved winners of this tri-tournament, the whole squad playing with grit, commitment, passion, flare and teamwork as well as demonstrating outstanding levels of fitness and handling.
19 matches undefeated, next up after the Easter break is Stourbridge on April 7.