The away-day blues continue for Hinckley
HINCKLEY’S dismal run of away form continued at Dore Lane on Saturday when Hornets succumbed 12-3 to spirited Tigers side who were looking to make amends for a disappointing defeat to bottom of the table Peterborough the previous Saturday, writes Nick Robinson.
Two tries against a single Joe Wilson penalty for Hornets settled the matter in what was another disappointing away performance from the men in black and amber.
In truth, given the conditions, it was never going to be a classic and there was still a doubt as to whether the game would go ahead up to an hour before kick-off. Freezing rain, a bitingly cold wind, and light conditions that could at best be described as dim had driven the majority of the crowd indoors well before the final whistle, and there was general agreement amongst the crowd that this was a day when you would have preferred not to be picked.
That said, Hinckley never looked like winning the game and hardly threatened the Tigers line for the whole 80 minutes. Hornets looked like a side who expected to lose and who simply wanted to get it over with. It didn’t help that they continued to try to play the wide expansive game they prefer when conditions dictated that numbers 11 to 15 should have been somewhat superfluous but what was more noticeable was the contrast between their demeanour and approach at home, when they are near invincible, and away, when they look like a team giving the opposition a run out.
Hinckley are a quality side and, for all their travails on the road, they still remain in third place in the division but until they overcome what is fast becoming a mental block about travelling, they will continue to underachieve.
Director of Rugby George Chuter summed up the game well in his post match comments.
He said: “We didn’t play the conditions well and consequently struggled to keep possession and sustain any pressure on the opposition. Tigers were much the better side on the day and thoroughly deserved the win.”
Hinckley were behind after only 8 minutes when a clever chip over the top on halfway by Tigers fly-half Mark Ireland was recovered by Tigers and fed out to the wing where Jamie Broadley ran in to touch down in the corner. A superb kick in the conditions by Ireland added the extras to give Tigers a 7-0 lead.