Hornets recover to win after a disastrous first half
HINCKLEY’S players were accused of being complacent ahead of their match at Westcliffe as they failed to grab a bonus point victory, writes Nick Robinson.
Despite recording their first win of the season recently, Westcliffe have conceded almost 1,000 points in 20 games this year with a negative points difference of 736.
Hornets themselves had put 66 points past them in the home game at Leicester Road, so their fans would have expected a comfortable afternoon’s work.
But the visitors conceded two tries in the first 20 minutes in what was a horrible first quarter littered with mistakes by both sides.
In bright but windy conditions, Westcliff broke the deadlock on 15 minutes.
Rory Vowles had been forced into touch deep in the Hinckley 22m from a clever chip through but, when the referee awarded Hinckley a scrum for a crooked throw in, the danger seemed to be over.
Uncharacteristically, however, Hornets were pushed off their
own ball, Westcliffe collected and pinged it out wide for the wing man to go over for a simple try.
Five minutes later, Westcliffe broke the Hinckley line on halfway, the ball was offloaded several times and eventually chipped through for Westcliffe runners to chase.
Hornets made a hash of fielding the ball and Westcliffe took advantage to score. Captain Greg Bannister converted to leave Hornets 12-0 down at half-time and looking shambolic. But whatever was said in the Hinckley dressing room seemed to have the desired effect in the second half.
Westcliffe dropped the ball from the kick-off, presenting Hornets with a scrum on the 22m.
The ball was fed left, Mitch Lamb broke the line, and off-loaded to Shae Nixon who scored out wide.
Joe Wilson converted. Ten minutes later and Hornets were level. A Hinckley penalty 30m out was kicked to within 5m of the Westcliffe line.
From the line-out the drive went close but was held short and Hornets had to be satisfied with a scrum 5m out.
Alex Salt picked up at the back and went over for the score and it seemed that the game may have swung Hinckley’s way.
Just shy of the hour, Kelly picked off a loose pass from Westcliffe just inside the Hinckley half and set off for the line, evaded the would-be tacklers and touched down under the posts.
Wilson’s conversion took the score to 19-7 and, with the momentum firmly with Hornets, the bonus point win at last seemed to be very much on the cards.
But then it all seemed to fall apart again. Westcliffe refused to roll over, and Hornets seemed to lose all shape and structure as they tried to force the game, and the errors crept back in.
Both sides had chances to score but neither were capable of taking those chances.
However, Hornets did add three more points at the death when
Wilson kicked a penalty from 30m out in added time.
Hinckley’s director of rugby Scott Hamilton was not a happy man at the final whistle.
He said: “It was a tough day. The first half was probably the worst 40 minutes we have played this season and for some time before that.
“Westcliffe are a plucky side but to go in at half-time 12-0 down against a team we should be beating was difficult.
“I think there was an element of complacency – it was the first time we have gone into a game expecting to win – and the wind didn’t help, but the wind isn’t an excuse for missing tackles and throwing silly passes.
“The third quarter was a massive contrast and I think there was an expectation we would run away with it after we got the three tries but they wouldn’t go away.
“They tackled well and kept at it, and we simply couldn’t get the flow in the game we were looking for.
“Overall, it’s one when you get back on the bus and try to put it behind you.”
Hinckley’s next match is at home to second-placed Esher who have won 12 games in a row and will start as red hot favourites to extend that run.