Under 16s through to county cup final
Hinckley RFC U14s V Market Harborough RUFC U14s
GAMES don’t get much tougher than this, a county cup semi-final and the biggest storm for 13 years.
The first half was attritional with the conditions dictating a tough narrow game with both teams battling hard at the break down, eventually Harborough got the ball out wide on the left putting their winger over in the corner for an unconverted try. Moments later a serious injury to Hinckley’s 9 meant the game was stopped due to concerns over a neck injury. The game was eventually restarted on a different pitch.
The remainder of the first half played out with both teams nullifying each other. The second half started in the same vain but Harborough now using the wind to utilise the kicking game. Hinckley’s defensive line was incredible but handling errors would prove costly as Harborough ran in 2 more trys one of which was converted even with the wind. The game went to and fro and Hinckley looked to have scored twice only for the ref to call held up. 10 minutes from the end and Hinckley’s 10 was injured and had to leave the field. The rejigged team rallied again but as they pushed forward Harborough got a break to run in a final try 0-22.
Hinckley RFC U16s V Oakham
RFC U16s
Oakham Blown Away Hinckley U16s stormed into the County Cup final, emphatically beating nemesis Oakham in atrocious conditions on Leicester Road’s stadium pitch, much to the delight of the near capacity crowd.
Hinckley, wearing their blue strip, kicked off the first half playing into the 60mph wind and horizontal rain, and were immediately put under pressure as Oakham used the conditions to their advantage, pinning Hinckley in their own 22. The black and ambers knew that trying to kick clear would be almost impossible, so wisely trundled the ball slowly down the pitch through strong carries by Jacques, Moore, Drakeford, Underwood and Buckler. As the rain lashed onto the stadium roof, Hinckley maintained possession superbly in the conditions, and crept into Oakham’s half, A. Whittingham, Barnes, Duggins, Wainde, Toon, Goodwin and Fountaine all making ground with powerful runs.
Oakham’s defence held firm and the ball was turned over, the visitors launching a counter-attack to test Hinckley’s resistance for the first time, which proved equally solid, as Barnes, Burton and Buckler put in thumping tackles. Hinckley were awarded a penalty and kicked for touch, resulting in a line-out on Oakham’s 22, from which breaks by Allen and Moore took Hinckley to within 5m of the try line. Hinckley’s forwards secured the ball and inched forward, Toon with the first pick and drive followed by Barnes who burrowed through brilliantly for a fantastic try.
Drakeford’s superbly struck conversion into the howling wind fell just short, but Hinckley had drawn first blood, much to the delight of the loyal army of home fans as the scoreboard read 5-0.
Oakham did respond, briefly, as the game re-commenced, attacking with a little more gusto, but there was no way through the aggressive Hinckley defence as Underwood, Barnes and Duggins threw their bodies into tackles. Hinckley regained possession and counterattacked, initially through breaks by Burton and Moore, before the forwards took control and trucked the ball back into Oakham’s half.
Oakham were reduced to 14 players and Hinckley took advantage, breaks by Moore, Barnes, Drakeford, L. Whittingham, A. Whittingham, Buckler and Fountaine taking the home side deep into Oakham territory. Hinckley were awarded a penalty for a high tackle from which the forwards drove towards the line with a superb series of pick and go-s, but the ball was held up and Oakham were let off as the referee signalled the end of a tense, physical first half.
Hinckley kicked off the second period with storm Ciara now on their backs, knowing that Oakham weren’t going to give up easily, which they didn’t, attacking from deep and forcing strong tackles from Hutton, McManus, A. Whittingham and Mensforth-Grove. Hinckley were awarded a penalty from which Moore sent a kick booming into Oakham’s 22. Hinckley’s forwards set up a superb driving maul from the resulting lineout, again controlling the ball brilliantly through several phases towards the try-line, before unleashing the backs, with Jacques coming into the line like a steam train, to power his way over for a fantastic second try. Allen’s terrific conversion added the extras and Hinckley’s lead had increased to 12-0.
Oakham responded but it didn’t make any difference as a rampant Hinckley continued the onslaught from the re-start, Buckler making a fantastic break with Burton, Goodwin, Barnes, McManus and Miller in support, taking the game back into Oakham’s 22.
The visitors were let off with a penalty and counter-attacked, but were met by solid tackles by Buckler, Burton, Dewfield and Hutton. Hinckley then found themselves down to 14 and Oakham took advantage, breaking through for what turned out to be a consolation score, reducing the deficit to 12-7 and setting up a rather edgy final quarter for the home supporters.
They needn’t have worried. This superbly drilled Hinckley team thwarted any more attempts by Oakham with brilliant, brave defending, turning over the ball and penning Oakham in their own 22 through thundering kicks from the boots of Allen and Moore.
Hinckley eventually put the game out of sight with five minutes remaining, McManus with a terrific steal and break with Smith and Jacques in support, crashing his way up to the 5m line. As play re-started with a line-out, the forwards once again with a series of superb pick and drives before a break by Allen took them within inches of the line. The ball was recycled and popped to Jacques who crashed through again for a brilliant third Hinckley try.
Allen split the uprights with another fantastic conversion in the howling wind taking the score to 19-7 and relieving some of the pressure.
The black and ambers came close to a fourth try as the game re-commenced, Moore with a superb catch and break, carving his way deep into opposition territory with Miller in support. But once again Oakham were let off with a penalty and made a last ditch attempt to score, breaking through, but Fountaine and Dewfield were on hand to bundle him into touch and curtail the threat.
Hinckley had regained possession and, as they had done all game, their forwards controlled the ball magnificently until the referee signalled time was up and the ball was hoofed into the now very animated and raucous home crowd to end the contest final score 19-7.