New boys off the bottom with win

Hinckley .......... 27 Otley ................ 15

HINCKLEY at last moved off the bottom of the table with a well deserved 27-15 victory at home to Otley.

It was their best performance since being promoted last season and will boost the confidence of the Leicester Road club.

Dominating up front right from the first whistle, the home side made the perfect start as man of the match Ehize Edevbalo-Ehizode was driven over from a catch and drive. Connor Eastgate slotted the conversion and added a penalty for a 10-0 lead.

Just before the break Otley came into contention with a try from Jack Mackie, the centre finishing off some excellent play.

Although Hodson was unsuccessful with the conversion, the full-back made amends with a penalty to close the half 15-8 in Hinckley's favour.

Strong scrummaging from the Hinckley pack forced a penalty try, East converting again.

Yet Otley came back strongly and again it was some fine play across the backline that created an opportunity for Mackie to scoot in for a second, Hodson slotting the conversion to put his side in contention for a losing bonus point.

But that was denied by Hinckley scrum-half Joe Glover, sniping from the back of a scrum, brought up a bonus-point try.

TEAMS

HINCKLEY: Culpin, Lamb, Murray, Umaga, Dacey, Eastgate, Glover, Harvey, Coltman, Bartlett, Marshall, Ehizode, Fearn, Avent, Salt

Replacements: Tanner, Peck, Branson, Lord, Phillip

OTLEY: Hodson, Petchey, Mackie, White, Wood, Coupland, Johnson, Rigg, Chadwick, Kivalu, Dunn, Willet, O’Donnell, Hudson, Watson Replacements: Burkinshaw, Steele, Wales, Cook REFEREE: Ben Rayner ATTENDANCE: 400 Star man Ehize Ehizode - Hinckley