Easy win in the cup
DESPITE having four players out of action, Hinckley U15s survived an early scare to maintain their unbeaten run for the 18-19 season, with a comfortable County Cup quarter final win over the Pie-eaters which ended 46 12.
Melton Mowbray kicked off and Hinckley instigated their first attack through runs by Golding, A. Whittingham and Drakeford. However, a turnover led to Melton scoring the first try.
Hinckley launched an assault from a penalty on their opposition’s 22, Burton and Drakeford making good yards before the ball was sent wide to L. Whittingham who burst down the right wing for Hinckley’s opening score, reducing the deficit to 5-7.
Hinckley’s pack held their own in the resulting 5m scrum, allowing Barnes to pick up and drive over for a deserved try. Drakeford’s conversion split the uprights, increasing Hinckley’s lead to 12-7.
A lose ball was picked up by Hinckley’s Drakeford, with Burton in support, who was tackled on the 5m line. Dewfield was on hand to gather the ball and dive over for Hinckley’s third try, taking the score to 17-7.
From a line out, the Hinckley pack set up a fantastic driving maul pushing the pie-men back over their own line for a brilliantly worked score, Goodwin emerging from the pile of players to claim the try.
From the re-start, Goodwin was in support to carry the ball forward before off-loading to Drakeford, who powered over the line with the help of the marauding Hinckley forwards, taking the score to 27-7 at the half-time break.
Melton attacked Hinckley from the kick-off, but ferocious tackles by Burton and Underwood resulted in a turnover. The ball was shipped out wide to L. Whittingham in space who careered down the wing for the opening try of the second period. Drakeford converted with an awesome strike from the touch-line to increase the home side’s lead to 34-7.
Hinckley turned over the ball yet again from a Melton line-out, helped by Toon, who did his usual best to put his opposite number off, with some Billy Elliot style moves he picked up from last night’s Strictly Come Dancing. Moore picked up the loose ball and superbly exploited a gap in the defensive line to score try number seven for Hinckley. Drakeford’s conversion gave Hinckley a commanding 41-7 lead.
Hinckley were rampant and launched another offensive as Barnes and Burton went on the charge. The ball found Fountaine out wide who made a fantastic break down the left wing, only to be tackled inches short of the line.
Hutton made a superb steal from a ruck to set up Hinckley’s eighth try, as the ball was neatly passed through the hands of Wainde, Moore, A. Whittingham and finally L. Whittingham, who powered over for a try, extending the black and ambers’ lead to 46-7.
Melton scored a late consolation try.