Huddersfield couldn’t quite muster a cull a Hinckley side on a nine-game winning run in the league, succumbing to a 24-15 defeat despite their valiant efforts.
A last-minute injury side-lined captain Dickie Piper, which was a double blow to field losing not only a valuable number 8 but prominent leader on the in an already tough fixture.
Yet Field returned to Lockwood park with a look of confident mentality, utilising possession well and matching the physicality of the Hinkley side man for man in the early phases of the game.
It had seemed like an eternity since Field graced the Lockwood Park pitch, the ground had not seen any first team action for 3 weeks due to postponement in fixtures and away matches- and Gareth Lewis’ side looked confident and composed on their turf, with warming sunny weather conditions to match- all too welcome after the bleak winter conditions the side have had to face as of recent
It took only 120 seconds for the first points to be scored at Lockwood Park. Charlie Morgan continues to prove his value to Gareth Lewis’s side by sliding over in the second minute. Will Milner’s duties on the conversion and a penalty five minutes later gave Field a 10-0 lead to build on.
Hinckley’s form preceeding the tie was exemplified in the spark of brilliance in which formed their first try on the 20 minute mark.
Breaking from their own line, the lightning fast counter attack could have been missed should one of the crowd have blinked, Joe Wilson blitzed past all Field attempts to bring him down as he got the ball over on the line on 22 minutes to bring the score to 10-7. A try which made clear that the Leicestershire side are deserving of their place in the table which now has them contesting for a play-off place.
After the break, Hinckley damaged Field early on. Patience and strategic play on the five-metre line allowed for a fluid move to be finished off to put the visitors ahead for the first time that afternoon 14-10.
However, Field had not even shown a glimpse of cowering down to the side in formidable form, and their reply to going down was very much determined by the mind set of “any thing you can do, we can do better”.
Lockwood Park was gifted another dream of a try from field on the 50-minute mark. Charlie Morgan initiated the move, sneakily squirming out of his own line of the 5-metre pitch marking, as he dashed to the half way line the ball was offloaded to the supporting Tom Hodson- who’s renowned speed saw him mirror his oppositions effort in the first half. He sped over to retain the lead 15-14.
Although Field gave their opposition a real contest, Hinckley started to retain their foothold in the game and began to tally up points on the board going into the final 20 minutes. After a converted penalty kick, Hinckley extended their lead after another tactical passing move opened up space to get over the line to put give the side their 24-15 score.
Field continued to press hard and experienced a lion share of the possession. The tie was no means over with the home still pushing on in the final ten minutes. But Hinckley’s rugby was sharp, tactical and punishing- and they managed to maintain the lead until the final whistle.
Gareth Lewis’ side gave a performance to be proud of and provided a positive and confident benchmark to work from going into the business end of the season in, bettered only by a clinical side in magnificent form.
“It’s disappointing not to get something out of the game considering the great start we made. We never recovered from the poor start to the second half, didn’t ask enough questions of Hinckley in attack and made too many individual errors.
We’ll review the game and come back stronger against Tynedale next Saturday. “
