Hornets throw away big lead along with promotion hopes
HINCKLEY’S stuttering season sank to a new low on Saturday with a last minute defeat to bottom club Luctonians.
In windless and dry conditions, and on a blameless surface, Hornets squandered a 29-8 lead in a second half display that will have George Chuter and his coaching team tearing their hair out.
Frankly, it was difficult to believe that a side that was so utterly dominant in the first half could implode so badly in the second. Admittedly,
Hornets had to put up with a hostile crowd whose respect for the normal civilities of the game was non-existent, and a referee whose decision making appeared on occasions to be as random as the Saturday night lottery.
But this was a defeat that was most definitely of their own making as their discipline and composure deserted them completely in the second period.
Hinckley’s start was encouraging, with Josh Smith almost going over in the corner after just three minutes but it was Luctonians who scored first, when, completely against the run of play, a wayward pass from Tak Osaki went straight to Luctonians Frank Kelly.
The wing man grabbed his opportunity well, running virtually the length of the field to touch down for the opening score.
Hornets regrouped and three minutes later were level.
A penalty for a high tackle 35m from the Luctonians line gave Joe Wilson the opportunity to push the ball into the corner and Gaz Turner went over from the resulting lineout.
Lucts did snatch the lead back six minutes later with a penalty from Sam Boxhall, but the rest of the half belonged to Hornets.
Captain Alex Salt literally rolled over the line on 25 minutes to take the lead with Joe Wilson converting.
With the clock showing six minutes to the break, Callum Dacey went over in the corner from a penalty scrum after Lucts had lost their winger to the bin.
From the kick-off, a twenty plus phase passage of play eventually saw Ben Marshall force his way over for the try which Wilson again converted to give Hinckley a 24-8 lead and a four try bonus point going into the break.
Lucts also lost a second man to the bin, this time for collapsing a maul.
With Lucts down to 13, Hinckley pressed their advantage from the kick-off as a break from Mitch Lamb put Josh Smith over in the corner to take a 29-8 lead. Hinckley seemed rampant. But Lucts weren’t going to lie down, and the game entered a ten minute period which ultimately turned the match.
Hornets first saw Lewis Snowden carded for collapsing a maul.
Lucts’ Frank Kelly then forced his way over in the corner, despite a desperate Hinckley high tackle, for his second unconverted try.
A brief fracas followed as some of the Lucts players made their displeasure at the high tackle known, and, after a lengthy debate by the three officials, Gaz Turner was carded for his part in proceedings. Hinckley themselves were now down to 13.
They never recovered as Luctonians saw their opportunity.
Kelly went over again on 56 minutes, this time under the posts, for his hat-trick and Boxhall converted to take the score to 20-29.
Wilson did grab a penalty to give Hinckley a little more breathing space but with the penalty count mounting and Hinckley kicking away what little possession they secured, the momentum was most definitely with Lucts.
A dropped ball from Hinckley on halfway was hacked on by Lucts and despite good initial defensive work from Callum Dacey, a poor clearance kick allowed Luctonians to run the ball back over the line to bring them within a score.
With just three minutes showing on the clock a succession of penalties eventually saw Lucts put one over from in front of the posts to bring them within four.
Yet another penalty, this time for offside, handed possession back to Lucts from the kick-off and they advanced steadily down field as Hinckley’s discipline seemed to completely disintegrate. The net result was Lucts, in the form of winger Josh Watkins, crossed in the corner to give the home side a one point lead with only stoppage time remaining.
Hornets did have one last throw of the dice when Lucts were penalised on their own 10m line and Wilson had a shot at goal but the attempt went wide and the home crowd erupted as the referee blew for time.
Defeat leaves Hinckley with little but pride to play for to the end of the season.
They now lie fifth in the table, 11 points behind Sedgley Park in second with five games to play.
Stourbridge, one place above Hornets in the table, are this week’s visitors to Leicester Road and the hope is that Hornets, now released from the pressure for results, can relax a little and show a little more of the free running game we know they are capable of.