Play off hopes still alive after tenth straight win
HORNETS came away with the spoils from Lockwood Park on Saturday and, in so doing, extended their winning run to ten games, writes Nick Robinson.
Crucially though, they failed to grab a four try bonus point and with Fylde securing a bonus point win at home to Luctonians, that failure may come to haunt them as the season draws to a close. With 5 games to go, Hornets now sit 5 points behind Fylde in third place, with Sedgley Park seven behind in fourth but with a game in hand.
“It’s seems unlikely now,” commented Director of Rugby Scott Hamilton on the possibility of Hornets grabbing the play-off place, “but all we can do is keep going and hope that Fylde slip up. Stranger things have happened. As it is, we are in unprecedented territory for Hinckley with ten straight wins under our belt.”
This was no stroll in the park though against a Huddersfield side who had only lost once in their last six games but were still only one place above the drop zone and heavily engaged in a relegation dog-fight with four other clubs.
Hamilton said: “It was a good performance. ‘Field had a good start but at no stage did I feel we weren’t going to win.
“The big disappointment was not getting the bonus point but to put it in perspective, we came here missing four key players and still managed to dominate the game. They were a tough side and played very close to the knuckle on occasions but I felt we responded well. We created enough chances to get the extra point but we should have played with a bit more control in the last 20 minutes.”
Although the game kicked off in bright sunshine, albeit in a stiff, chilling breeze, the pitch, while not a quagmire, was still showing the effects of the recent heavy rain and it seemed likely that the match would deteriorate into an old fashioned wrestling match in the mud. In the event, both sides tried to play rugby and produced a far more entertaining game than perhaps the supporters had a right to expect.
‘Field started much the brighter and indeed were ahead within five minutes. A forward pass from the kick-off had given ‘Field a scrum 30m from the Hinckley line and the opportunity to exert some early pressure. From a ruck close to the line the ball found ‘Field fly-half Charles Morgan who side stepped through some uncharacteristically poor Hinckley tackling to score under the posts. Will Milner added the extras.
Ten minutes later, Milner added a penalty from 30m out to extend the ‘Field lead to 10 points and it became evident, Hornets had a fight on their hands.
The response was spectacular. Quality ball from a Hinckley scrum on their own 22m line found Callum Dacey via Tom Wheatcroft, and Dacey broke through to carry the ball into the ‘Field half. With the cover closing in, Dacey put in delightful grubber kick for Rory Vowles to chase. A kindly bounce allowed Vowles to grab the ball just before it went into touch and a masterful reverse pass found a charging Joe Wilson who ran to the line unchallenged for what must be a candidate for the try of the season. Wilson added the extras from wide out to close the gap to three.
Hornets should have gone in ahead at halftime when, in the last few minutes of the half, a series of penalties close to the ‘Field line ought to have brought the score. It all came to nought, however, when Hinckley were penalised in the scrum and ‘Field were able to relieve the pressure and go in ahead.
On the resumption, Hornets did take the lead, however. A poor kick out of defence by Field allowed Hornets to run the ball back and it was eventually Josh Smith who burst through the line. He found Jamie Skerritt in support who in turn off-loaded to prop Dave Peck to run the ball in by the posts from 6m out, although Peck was later to claim he had to make at least 25m for the score. Again Wilson converted and Hornets were up 14-10.
The ‘Field response was a try to match the earlier effort from Hornets. An electric break from Morgan from inside his own 22m saw him carry to the Hinckley 10m line before offloading to Tom Hodson who was pacey enough to beat the Hinckley cover defence. Milner though could not convert leaving the game finely balanced at 15-14 with half an hour to play.
‘Field, enjoying perhaps their best period of the game, then twice went close when only a forward pass saved Hornets from another score and then No. 8 Lewis Bradley could not hold onto a scoring pass with the line open.
Instead it was Wilson, having another immaculate game with the boot, who restored Hornets’ lead eight minutes later from 30m out after ‘Field had been caught off-side.
The score seemed to turn the game. The killing blow came on 62 minutes when Ollie Povoas came up with the ball after the pack has driven the ball 15m from a penalty lineout. When Wilson converted the game was up for ‘Field.
In fairness, the last quarter was not a great advert. Both sides were guilty of handling errors but Hinckley managed to get a stranglehold on the game and ‘Field were pinned in their own half for the rest of the game. Pointon went close with a characteristic sniping break and arguably the pack should have worked the ball over the line in the closing minutes but it was not to be and Hornets had to be content with a four point haul.
Hornets now have a week-off before entertaining Tynedale at Leicester Road on March 21.