Powerful performance as the Colts ease past Old Laurentians
OLD LAURENTIANS COLTS 5 HINCKLEY COLTS 39
HINCKLEY Colts put in another hearty, dominant performance against a relatively unknown Old Laurentians (OLs) side to claim a comfortable 39-5 victory in this friendly away encounter.
Despite the blustery conditions, Hinckley Colts played some fantastic running rugby with sublime handling, scoring seven tries to one, much to the delight of their loyal travelling supporters who huddled together in the Baltic breeze.
Hinckley kicked off into the wind and were on the scoreboard within five minutes. A thumping tackle by Wainde in midfield resulted in a Hinckley turnover from which they launched a counter-attack through strong carries by Drakeford, Barnes, Wainde, Burton, Wilson, Duggins, Goodwin, Kennerson and L. Whittingham, taking them deep into OLs’ 22.
Hinckley were awarded a scrum 5m out from which number eight Barnes bulldozed towards the line with Drakeford in support, who burrowed over to give the visitors an early 5-0 lead.
OLs had barely got their breath back before Hinckley scored their second try, as breaks by Barnes, Connolly, Wilson, Kew, Carey and Bosworth took the black and ambers back into
OLs’ 22. Connolly emerged from a ruck with the ball and galloped through under the posts. Kennerson blasted the conversion over into the breeze, extending Hinckley’s lead to 12-0.
Hinckley continued the onslaught as the game recommenced, using their forward dominance to trundle the ball downfield before sending it wide with notable runs by Carey, L. Whittingham, Burton and Kew. OLs managed to get their hands on the ball for the first time in the game but failed to break through Hinckley’s strong defensive line as Burton, Kennerson, Baron, Drakeford and Connolly put in bruising tackles.
OLs eventually resorted to putting boot to ball and used the strong tailwind to enjoy a brief spell in Hinckley’s 22, but a fantastic steal from a ruck by Drakeford, a Carey snipe and break from Beck took Hinckley back into OLs’ half.
Hinckley’s third try came from a
crafty Connolly line-out steal on the halfway line and strong carries by Duggins, Goodwin, Drakeford and L. Whittingham set up Burton, who ploughed over from close range, taking the score to 17-0 at the interval.
Hinckley made a number of changes for the second period and with the wind on their backs scored their fourth try shortly after the restart. Initial breaks by Drakeford, L. Whittingham, Duggins, Baron, Wainde and Miller took Hinckley up to OLs’ 22 before Carey exploited the smallest of gaps in their defence to dance through for a superb solo try and extend Hinckley’s advantage to 22-0.
OLs never looked like they would come back from the dead, but they did manage to score a consolation try shortly after the game recommenced. Despite solid tackles by Miller, Drakeford, Goodwin, L. Whittingham, Burton and Barnes, OLs managed to break through Hinckley’s defensive line, crashing over from a driving maul 5m out, slightly reducing the deficit to 22-5.
Hinckley responded immediately after the re-start through galloping runs by L. Whittingham, Underwood, Plowman and Fountaine, and came close to try number five as Kew was held up on the line following a scrum 5m out. OLs attempted to kick clear but the swirling ball found Barnes on the 22m line, who carved through the flailing defence and crashed over in the corner, taking the score to 27-5.
Finding themselves down to 14 players after the referee had finally had enough of OLs’ constant infringing at the rucks, the dogged home side went on the offensive following the re-start but Hinckley’s magnificent defence held firm as Underwood, Plowman, Bosworth, Beck, Miller and Toon put in awesome tackles.
The black and ambers regained possession and counter-attacked through breaks by Miller and Plowman forcing OLs back into their own half. Hinckley’s text book sixth try came from a line-out on the 10m line, as the ball was taken cleanly and passed superbly through the back’s hands to Beck on the left wing who put on the after-burners to scorch over the line. Kennerson added the extras, increasing Hinckley’s lead to 34-5.
Hinckley’s seventh and final try followed a rather scrappy but physical last five minutes. OLs launched a series of attacks but were stopped in their tracks as Barnes, Toon, Duggins, Underwood, Plowman and Burton put in huge hits. Hinckley regained possession and runs by Fountaine, Wilson and Drakeford took the visitors into OLs’ 22. The black and ambers were awarded a penalty which they kicked for touch, setting up a terrific driving maul from the resulting line-out, allowing Miller to bundle over with Toon in support and wrap up a 39-5 win.