Match Reports

Hinkley 15 v 12 Longton 1st XV

Longton went down by 15-12pts. at second placed Hinckley in a game which they dominated for most of the match with the hosts kicking the winning drop goal in injury time.

The sporting Hinckley team, their spectators, the President of Leicestershite RFU and the travelling Longton supporters all agreed that the official denied the visitors two perfectly legimate tries. Unfortunately, the referee, in fairness to him, was poorly positioned both times to observe that the ball had been properly grounded for tries with the home team accepting afterwards that the groundings were good.
 

Longton had to make two late changes as Fijians, Naz Narewa and Ulla Uvascu, were both late cry offs and were replaced by Frazer Kellythorne and Tom Smith. The visitors attacked from the kick off and soon had the home line under pressure as their powerful pack, led by skipper, Craig Wilson, stormed into the home "22". Hinckley were forced to concede penalties to preserve their line and after only 7mins. the referee issued a yellow card to the home No.8. Longton now had the opportunity to attack from a 5 metre scrum against a seven man pack but wasted the chance to capitalise with a lazy scrum which saw them lose possession for Hinckley to clear their line.

However, there was no respite for the home team and Longton continued to press when in possession to pressurize the home line with the result that on 16mins. Craig Wilson bulldozed his way through several would-be tacklers to dive over for the opening try. Grant Hallam's successful conversion put Longton 7pts. up.

Hinckley struggled to get into the game but their lively young backs always looked threatening. Their quick movement brought a penalty in the 20th. minute but the kick drifted wide of the uprights. Longton soon came back on the attack though some astute kicking from Paul Green and Lee Brogan. On one occasion, this led to the Longton forwards driving forward in a series of mauls resulting in the ball being taken over the try line only for the official to award a 5 metre scrum instead of the obvious try.

Just 3mins. before half time Hinckley had a line out just 5m. from the Longton line and a well worked catch and drive saw them storm over the line for a try. The conversion was missed to make the half time score 7-5pts. to Longton.
 

Longton brought on James Staley at loose head prop to replace John Smith who had been struggling with a back injury from the start but this did not disturb the momentum of the vistiors' pack as they took the game to the hosts from the start of the second half. After only 4mins. Craig Wilson took a short return line out ball from Rich Thompson and drilled a beautiful grubber kick towards the home line. Hinckley were forced to concede a throw only 5m. from their own line and Rich Kelly' s superb catch was driven over by his fellow forwards for Ben Grocott to ground the ball for a try. Grant Hallam's conversion attempt from wide out drifted just passed the right upright but Longton were now deservedly 12-5pts. up.

Hinckley are not in third place in the league for nothing and they gradually began to win a little more possession allowing their talented backs to launch a series of attacks and from one such move they scored a fine try which was successfully converted to bring the score level at 12-12pts.

Both teams began kicking deep to try to play the game well into their opponents half but it was Longton who had the better of the exchanges thanks to some intelligent kicks from full back, Grant Hallam, who had an excellent game throughout.
Longton were by now spending lengthy spells in the home "22" with their forwards led by Gareth Rawlings applying pressure on the Hinckley defence. After several near misses were scrambled away Longton were awarded a penalty some 20m. out near the touchline. They chose to kick into the corner from where another excellent Rich Kelly take saw the pack drive over the line with James Staley falling on top of the ball. For the second time in the match the official did not award the try, again giving a 5m. scrum. As if deflated by this decision Longton did not capitalise on the 5m. scrum and Hinckley were able to clear their lines.

Injury time beckoned as Hinckley at last managed to take play into the Longton half where from a line out they fed the ball to the fly half who sent over a superbly struck drop goal from 35m. to give the home team a most fortunate and rather undeserved victory by 15-12pts.

This is the second last second defeat for Longton in recent weeks away to top four teams but the encouraging feature lately has been the much improved form which, if maintained, should see them start to climb the table in the New Year, especially when Scott Rawlings and Chris Buck return to the backs. The next 2 weeks see home games against Kenilworth and South Leicester.
 

M Wheat