Hornets edged out at the end
HINCKLEY were edged out 19-18 in the last few minutes of a hard fought game against Chester at Hare Lane on Saturday, writes Nick Robinson.
Hornets were coming off the back of two thumping wins at home and Chester were defending an unbeaten run going back to October so it was always likely to be close.
In truth, neither side really deserved to lose and it was a game that could have gone either way right up to the final whistle.
After a scoreless first half, Hornets led for much of the second period before being overhauled in the 73rd minute when wingman Harrison Vare nipped in for his second try of the afternoon.
It was a cruel blow. Hornets had taken the lead shortly after the halftime break when Will Cave touched down for a score which Joe Wilson converted, and when Wilson slotted a penalty three minutes later it seemed like Hinckley might just pull away from their opponents.
In truth though, Hornets were never comfortable and Chester pulled a try back at the end of the third quarter to cut the lead to five points.
Joe Wilson did restore Hinckley’s ten point advantage when he got on the end of a kick through from Tom Wheatcroft to go over on 66 minutes but it was short-lived. Chester responded three minutes later when Vare scythed through for his first score, followed by his second and winning score just four minutes later. In between times, Joe Wilson had slotted a penalty but it wasn’t quite enough to seal the win.
“It was a tough old game, probably the most physical game we have played all year,” said Hinckley Director of Rugby Scott Hamilton after the game.
“On another day we could easily have won. There were a couple of crucial decisions that didn’t go our way, and we should have scored at the end of the first half when we dropped the ball going over the line.
“We had plenty of pressure in the second half but never quite managed to get away. That said, Chester are a quality side with some big ball carriers who carried hard all afternoon. You never like to lose but it was quite gratifying that the talk in the clubhouse afterwards was we were the best side they had seen at home this season.”
Hornets did pick up a losing bonus point and it was enough for Hornets to hold onto seventh place in the table at the halfway point in the season. Next week, Hornets entertain fourth placed Loughborough Students in the first return game of the season and will be looking to avenge a resounding 41-7 thrashing earlier in the season.