Hinckley RFC U14s V Ashby U14s

Perfect 20 against 16 men

Match Report: Hinckley U14s 58 v 12 Ashby U14s, Saturday 7th April 2018 by Andy Duggins

Hinckley U14s notched up their 20th victory from 20 games against old nemesis Ashby in a re-arranged Saturday game and in doing so went past the thousand point mark for the season.

Hinckley kicked off, immediately taking the game to a fired up Ashby side, with runs by Underwood, Toon, Buckler, Goodwin and Jacques. Hinckley retained possession and, from 10 metres out, Allen fed the ball wide to Smith (with the help of Goldings head!) who dived over for the first try of the match giving the black and ambers an early 5-0 lead.

Ashby counter-attacked following the re-start but were quickly turned over following a crunching Allen tackle and steal by Drakeford, who popped the ball to Jacques to show his power and pace and sprint in from the halfway line for Hinckley’s second try. Allen converted to extend the lead to 12-0.

Hinckley’s third try soon followed, Drakeford catching the ball from the kick-off and making good yards, with Allen in support, whose perfectly weighted pass found Golding at pace who crashed over the line taking the score to Hinckley 17–0 Ashby.

A stunned Ashby side went back on the offensive as the game re-commenced but they were again turned over, Burton gathering the loose ball before offloading to Moore, who rounded his opposite number superbly from inside his own half to score Hinckley’s fourth try. Allen’s conversion increased Hinckley’s lead to 24-0.

Ashby retaliated showing greater gumption, but Hinckley’s defence held firm with notable tackles by Buckler, L. Whittingham, A. Whittingham, Allen and Burton. The game was now more evenly contested, until Golding picked up Ashby’s long kick-through and made an impressive break over the half-way line. Dewfield showed excellent support play, taking the pass and darting down the wing to score try number five for the black and ambers. The conversion bounced back off the post but Hinckley’s advantage was extended to 29-0.

Try number six for Hinckley came immediately after the re-start, Burton crashing through Ashby’s flailing defence with Allen in support who danced through the opposition to score under the posts. He converted his own try, taking the score to Hinckley 36-0 Ashby.

Hinckley’s seventh and last try of the first half was superbly worked. Hinckley’s pack, which had held its own against a big Ashby unit all game, won a scrum, from which Wainde fed the ball to Allen whose pass found Smith, who took Hinckley over the half-way line. Dewfield again showed excellent support play to receive the final pass and whiz over for his second try of the game, increasing Hinckely’s lead to 41-0.

Ashby finally broke their duck just before half-time, capitalising on a lucky rebound from a kick-through, taking the score at the interval to Hinckey 41-5 Ashby.

Hinckley brought on a number of replacements for the second half and Ashby introduced another player but ‘forgot’ to take one off so played with 16 players for 10 minutes. This seemed to even the game up as they scored their second try shortly after, reducing Hinckley’s lead to 41-12.

Ashby now had their tails up and attacked again as the game re-commenced but a superb covering tackle by Moore resulted in a Hinckley turnover, from which McManus, Barnes and Drakeford took Hinckley back into their opposition’s half. Hinckley were awarded a penalty just inside their own half which Burton took on the crash with a barn-storming run to score their opening try of the second half. Drakeford converted, extending Hinckley’s lead to 48-12.

A dominant Hinckley side continued to pressure the visitors’ defence with noteworthy strong runs by Jacques, Moore, Barnes, Miller, A. Whittingham, L. Whittingham and Drakeford. Ashby cleared their lines, finding McManus who took the ball back into Ashby’s half. Hinckey maintained possession, Barnes taking the ball forward before passing to Allen in support for another brilliant try. The conversion from out wide fell short but Hinckley had surpassed the half century mark, the score now Hinckley 53-12 Ashby.

Hinckley attacked again from a line-out after the re-start, their forwards combining superbly before an Underwood break took them deep into Ashby’s half. Ashby cleared but the black and ambers came back again as the ball was fed from Giles to Moore, with Jacques in support. Hinckley re-cycled the ball and further runs by Burton and Duggins took the home side deep into Ashby’s 22.

Hinckley were then awarded a penalty following a high tackle, from which the ball was again popped to Burton at pace who crashed through like a steam train from 10 metres out to score in the corner. The superbly struck conversion from the touch line fell just short and the whistle sounded to end the game, final score Hinckley 58-12 Ashby.

This was another outstanding performance from the Hinckley U14s squad against a well-drilled Ashby side who came to spoil Hinckley’s unbeaten run but were undone by superior pace, power, fitness and team spirit, which is testament to the effort put in to training by the lads and the dedication of the coaching staff.