Lacklustre Hornets punished in a game they were outplayed
IT IS difficult to understand how a team can comprehensively defeat one of the top sides in the division one week and then, just seven days later, meekly roll over to what results would suggest are one of the weakest sides in the division.
So it was with Hinckley on Saturday when they were outplayed, outfought, and outgunned by Rochford Hundred who had only managed six victories in the league this season prior to this game. It was truly a disheartening experience and one which has become all too familiar to Hinckley supporters this season.
Hornets did salvage two points from the game at the death when, with Rochford down to thirteen men, the referee awarded a penalty try when the Hinckley pack drove over the line from a scrum only to be denied by a Rochford infringement.
The score gave Hinckley a 4-try bonus point and brought the scores within seven points to seal a losing bonus point but that failed to make up for what was a mediocre performance when too many players appeared to be coasting through the game.
The line-out was a shambles throughout and cost several missed try scoring opportunities and the back division was largely unable to break the Rochford defensive line. Rochford on the other hand, buoyed by what was billed as their best ever victory last week away to Henley, were far more incisive and aggressive, particularly around the breakdown, notching up five tries against Hinckley’s four.
Hornets’ Head Coach Chris Campbell was visibly disappointed after the game.
He said: “Rochford brought more energy throughout the game than we did. Our breakdown wasn’t as effective as we saw against Worthing which made life difficult for scrumhalf Ben Pointon and we couldn’t generate the momentum we wanted.
“I’m concerned about how easily we are leaking tries. It’s great to be scoring them, and again we scored a try bonus point, but we aren’t making oppositions earn their tries. It was the same last week, and it is an area which has to improve. We need people to become accountable for their actions in this area.”
Hornets had the better of the early exchanges, but Rochford soon began to exert some pressure and it was no surprise when, after 12 minutes, Rochford centre Damian Bramley finished off a move that had begun on halfway with a Rochford line-out and gone through several pairs of hands before Bramley touched down for the score. The conversion was missed.
Hinckley pulled level as the first quarter came to an end in what was one of their best passages of play. From a scrum in the Rochford half, the ball was fed first right, then left, and back again. Euan Kelly went close before winger Josh Smith finished the move out wide. Joe Wilson couldn’t convert.
Parity didn’t last long. Four minutes later Rochford were awarded a penalty at a scrum 30m from the Hinckley line. The ball was tapped quickly with the Hornets defence out of position and, although the move was stopped just short, a couple more phases saw the ball carried over the line under the posts by winger Mark Billings. It was an easy conversion for George Elliott.
It was another quick tap penalty which led to Rochford’s next score. Oscar Harper pulled his man down but had not retired 10m and was carded. The second penalty was also tapped, and the Rochford pack drove the ball over with No. 8 Mac Duaibe claiming the score. Elliott again converted to make the score 19-5 at the half-time interval.
Hornets did claim the next score when, with Rochford pressing in the Hinckley 22m, the ball went loose as Rory Vowles tackled his man and fell into the hands of Smith who ran 80m to touch down by the posts. Vowles converted. It was a well taken try but there was more than a suspicion of a knock-on in the tackle by Vowles.
At 19-12, Hornets were back in it but hopes of a great escape were dashed 10 minutes later. A Rochford line-out on the Hinckley 10m line was knocked back for Duaibe to make ground before offloading in the tackle. Good hands then carried the ball to the line for scrum half Jack Daly to touch down. Elliott’s conversion extended the Rochford lead to fourteen points.
Hornets did respond almost immediately, however, to keep hope alive for the Hinckley support. A Vowles run from his own 22m deep into Rochford territory set up a chance for Callum Dacey who went close. Rochford conceded the penalty and Hornets opted to scrum 15m out from the Rochford line. Pointon fed the ball along the line and Euan Kelly, picking an excellent line, burst through to score under the posts. Wilson converted.
The escape was back on but yet again, Hornets conceded a try just four minutes later. A Rochford line-out on the Hinckley 10m line was claimed and the ball worked up the field for another score under the posts which Elliott again converted to take it to 33-19.
With just 10 minutes to go, securing the bonus point became the priority for Hornets and they did rise to the task. Rochford found themselves under heavy sustained pressure in the final minutes.
Two yellow cards reduced Rochford to thirteen and made the score almost inevitable. It finally came in the final seconds when the referee awarded the penalty try.