Under 15s return with style as they score 76 against OLs
HINCKLEY U15s maintained their unbeaten record going into the festive break, with a convincing 76-20 win against Old Leamingtonians (OLs), despite a three week lay-off and several cancelled games, writes Andy Duggins.
Hinckley kicked off and soon got their hands on the ball.
Hinckley’s first of 12 festive tries came from the resulting line-out as the pack set up a fantastic driving maul, sledging their way towards the line. The ball was shipped out to Moore at pace in midfield who burst through to score under the posts. Allen’s conversion presented Hinckley with a 7-0 lead.
Moore was soon on the score-sheet again for Hinckley’s second try, carving his way through from the halfway line like Santa on a mission after Hinckley’s marauding forwards had turned over the ball. Another successful Allen conversion increased the home side’s lead to 14-0.
Try number three shortly followed the re-start after initial breaks from Underwood, Toon, Allen and Smith created space for Jacques to blast his way through OLs’ flailing defence to score under the posts. Allen made it three conversions out of three, extending Hinckley’s advantage to 21-0.
OLs rallied and managed to reduce the deficit to 21-5 as their big prop crashed over from a penalty 5m out.
Hinckley immediately retaliated as Jacques ploughed his way towards OLs’ try-line with several opposition tacklers hanging off him like cheap baubles. Hinckley maintained possession and passed out to Moore who ran a superb line to score his hat-trick try, taking the scoreline to 26-5.
OLs’ heads were starting to bow as Hinckley became increasingly dominant, Jacques crashing through for his sec- ond try after half breaks by Smith and Drakeford. Allen’s conversion increased Hinckley’s lead to 33-5.
Hinckley’s sixth try came straight from the re-start, Duggins taking the catch and setting up a ruck from which the ball was popped to Burton at pace who galloped under the sticks like a startled reindeer. Allen split the uprights, taking the score to 40-5.
Hinckley’s seventh and last try of the half was a cracker. Allen sent a kick downfield from which the black and ambers maintained possession. “Back-door” Burton’s sublime handling skills created space for L. Whittingham out wide but he was tackled inches short of the line. Burton showed excellent support play to gobble up the loose ball and crash over. Allen’s conversion took the half time score to 47-5.
Hinckley started the second period in similar fashion with another brilliant team try. The ball was shipped out wide to Fountaine who skated down the right wing for a cracking score, taking Hinckley over the half century at 52-5.
The champagne rugby kept on flowing, as sparkling runs from Burton, Dewfield, Wainde, Drakeford, Giles and Barnes took Hinckley up to OLs’ 22m line. The ball was recycled and fed to Allen who jinked his way through for another superbly worked try, his conversion increasing Hinckley’s lead to 59-5.
OLs then scored their second try.
Hinckley soon struck back. Hinckley maintained possession through a number of phases and were rewarded with a penalty 10m out, which Jacques took on the crash and bulldozed his way over for a fine hat-trick. Allen’s superbly struck conversion from the touchline sailed over, taking the scoreline to 66-10.
Hinckley’s eleventh and penultimate try heralded, like pipers piping, another tremendous team effort. Breaks by Burton, Underwood, Drakeford, Goodwin and Dewfield took Hinckley up to OLs’ line. A series of rucks ensued from which Drakeford and Burton were both held up on the line before Hutton finally made the breakthrough, picking up and diving over in the corner, the score now 71-10.
OLs bounced back with their third try.
The drummers drumming could be heard when Hinckley scored their twelfth and final try as the game entered the last few minutes, counter-attacking through breaks by Burton and McManus, with Smith in support to take the pass and dash down the wing to score.
OL’s persistence paid off with a late consolation tryleaving the final score at 76 to 20.