Hornets fight back to take away win

HORNETS completed their first double of the season with a bonus point 26-20 win over old rivals Luctonians at Mortimer Park, further consolidating their position in the top half of the division, writes Nick Robinson.

The win saw Hinckley move into fifth place in the division courtesy of Caldy’s victory over Sheffield Tigers who slip to sixth.

There is no realistic chance of Hinckley challenging for promotion this season - Caldy remain unbeaten at the top of the division 27 points ahead of Hinckley and second placed Fylde are 19 point in front – but after the travails in the early part of the season, a fourth place finish is now a realistic ambition.

It was an entertaining, if not pulsating, game in what have become unfamiliarly dry conditions.

There was little doubt that the home crowd thought they had been robbed of a much needed victory but the Hinckley men showed their mettle under pressure and were good enough to take their chances when they were presented.

Hinckley’s Director of Rugby Scott Hamilton said: “I really enjoyed the day to be honest. It was a tough game in front of a big crowd who made lots of noise. I thought we were a bit unlucky to be only 2 points ahead at half-time but we defended really well in the second half and took our chances when they came. The game as a whole showed how far we have come in the last 6-8 weeks.”

It has to be said that Luctonians were the faster out of the blocks and put Hornets under some pressure in the early exchanges. But it was Hinckley who drew first blood after 9 minutes. A penalty on the Lucts’ 10m line for not rolling away gave Joe Wilson the chance to drill the ball deep into the Lucts’ 22m. Hornets claimed the line-out, and although, the initial drive went down, Dave Peck picked up to drive over for the first score which Joe Wilson converted.

Lucts pulled three back with a close range penalty four minutes later but it was Hinckley’s game at this stage. Joe Wilson went over on 22 minutes after Hornets had won a lineout around 30m from their own line and driven towards halfway. When the ball was released to the backs, Rory Vowles made good ground before shipping the ball on to Wilson to score in the corner. Wilson couldn’t convert but Hornets were looking comfortably in charge.

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