Date of release: Sun 7th October 2007

“Year 2 Seal of Approval launches new Minis season against Syston”

Hinckley RFC’s Minis launched their season this weekend with strong performances against Syston, whilst our Under 16’s faced a stern test in their opening County Cup match against last season’s champions, Loughborough.

Although early in the season, plans are already in place to continue developing the Minis and Juniors section, and indeed youth rugby in Hinckley, with Hinckley RFC earning national RFU Seal of Approval accreditation, for the second year of it’s development plans. The prestigious Award recognises the local coaching initiatives and best practices that the club follows and was presented to Hinckley RFC at the recent Tigers vs Bath match, at Welford road, with the occasion marked by Jenna Studley, RFU Rugby Development Officer, Steve Bowler (HRFC Minis Finance and U11’s), Nigel Abraham (HRFC Seal of Approval, Press and U14’s), and of course Welford himself (the furry one…!).

Hinckley Under 7’s had a strong turn out for their first fixture of the season, looking smart in their new Hinckley Round Table sponsored strip. The Hinckley ‘Lions’ team narrowly lost the first match 40-55 to Syston ‘A’, however, Chenery was on top form scoring 4 times. Morrisey ran his legs off tagging many of the opposition and scoring 2 tries along with Davey.
The second game was a close encounter but saw Hinckley ‘Tigers’ forge ahead against Syston ‘B’ winning 25-20 with tries from Nixon (2), Houghton, Hall-Crowfoot and Bevan.
The third game saw a repeat of the first game with the Lions losing 15-35 to Syston ‘A’, despite a strong performance from Hinckley with Morrissey scoring 2 including a fabulous solo effort running virtually the whole length of the pitch. Chenery continued to impress also scoring.
Hinckley Tigers last game continued to show a strong supportive team game. However, despite great tries from Nixon, Houghton, Hall-Crowfoot and Upton they lost out 20-35 to Syston ‘B’.

Hinckley’s young Under 8’s sponsored by O'Hanlon & Skinner, had a great opening game against Syston with two tries each for Davies, Massarella and Cavanagh, followed by one from Jordan. Hinckley 35 - Syston 10.
In the second match Hinckley fielded a side of mostly new players who played well but lost out to a strong Syston team. Hinckley 0 - Syston 25.
Hinckley then fought hard to win a close match with three tries from Massarella and one each from Cavanagh, Davies and Roan. Hinckley 30 - Syston 20.
Hinckley then lost their final match with Gibson scoring Hinckley’s only score on his debut. Hinckley 5 - Syston 30.

The Under 9's sponsored by Bronx UK, fielded two teams against Syston. Both matches saw good defensive play, although Hinckley was out run by a couple of fast wingers from Syston. In their first game, Hinckley’s Hubbard and Davis notched up scores, but Syston edged ahead to win Hinckley 10 - Syston 20. In the second match, Syston were pressed into their own half for much of the game, with Sharkey scoring for Hinckley. Hinckley then just missed out on a further try, in this much closer encounter, ending Hinckley 5 - Syston 10.

Hinckley Under 10’s Bees and Hornets sponsored by AMG, Thermoskin and 600 services played 2 games each against Syston.
In the first match, Syston started the quicker, catching the Bees asleep from the kick off to run in a simple try. Syston continued to pressure the Bees, not allowing them out of their own half and the pressure paid off with a turnover ball and a well worked try. The second half saw both sides making some big tackles. At the final whistle Syston had added one more try to a well-deserved 15 points to 0 win. Man of the Match going to Houghton and Tackler of the Match Croasdale for his try saving tackle.
The second match was another close affair. This time Hinckley played some fine flowing rugby preventing Syston time on the ball. Syston scored first against the run of play, but this only made the Bees more determined and at half time Hinckley had levelled the score with a fine try from Tuffin, who sprinted to the corner and some how found his way through to the line. The Bees continued to play more as a team, picking up any loose ball growing in confidence as the game wore on. After a great drive from Hinckley’s forwards, Baker made a superb long pass out to see James finish with a good try to snatch a well deserved victory for the Bees. Awards of Man of the Match went to Baker, and Tackler of the Match to Bevan, in the Hinckley Bees 10 - Syston ‘A’ 5 result.
The Hornets first game saw a lot of their players playing their first competitive match. Syston got off to a quick start scoring two tries in a matter of minutes. By half time they had added another try. Syston continued to play some good attacking rugby and at the final whistle they were worthy winners winning 25 –0. Man of the Match was Egginton and Tackler of the Match for his no fear attitude went to Lowdnes
The Hornets second match was a much closer affair. The Hornets were starting to gel together as a team and make their tackles count so it was much harder for Syston to break Hinckley’s line. Syston though scored twice to take the lead but on the stroke of half time the Hornets pulled back a try from Cammiss from some very well worked forward play. The second half saw Syston find a few a cracks in the Hornets defence and as the game wore on they added a further three tries. The Hornets finished the match off though with an excellent individual try from Lowdnes who glided his way through Syston’s defence. Final score Syston 25 - Hornets 10. Hinckley can be very proud of themselves in the way they played today. Man of the Match was Ward and Tackler of the Match was Chenery.

In their first match at 12-a-side, Hinckley Under 11’s, sponsored by TMS Volvo and J&H Construction threw a lot of new recruits into a trial by fire against a strong Syston squad and emerged with their heads held high. With evenly matched rucking and mauling the first score took a while to arrive until scrum half Ruskin made a powerful dash off the back of a Hinckley scrum. The lead was doubled before half time with a similar effort as Atkinson stretched his legs. Syston came back strongly in the second half and sustained pressure resulted in a Syston try to narrow the gap. Hinckley replied with a fine effort from Bowler as he twisted and turned to evade the Syston defence for Hinckley’s third. Final score Hinckley 15 - Syston 5. Man of the Match went to debutant Williams for outstanding work in the pack and the lineouts and Tackle of the Match went to Ruskin.
The two teams faced up for their second match having gained enormously from their first competitive match of the season and this proved a more even encounter, the 0-0 half time score belying the competitive ferociousness of the two sides. The first score didn’t come until near the end of the match with a powerful drive by Tuilagi off a series of rolling Hinckley mauls and charges. Syston were quick to level the score with a bruising attack down Hinckley’s left flank. Final score Hinckley 5 - Syston 5. Man of the Match went to Sefton in the second row and Tackle of the Match went to full back and match saver Nixon.

Hinckley Under 12’s, sponsored by Nextgen Rigging, enjoyed a competitive fixture against their Syston opponents. The scene then was set just after half time when Syston capitalised on a blind-side set scrum and poor marking to open their account, converting the try to go seven points clear. Gradually Hinckley found their form, keeping ball in hand and playing to their strengths, and in what was to be a tense second half worked their way back into the game. Midway through the second half Hinckley set up a maul after good running from Huggins. This was to see A Holland roll from the maul for a well-constructed try, typical of last season’s forward dominated rugby. From here on the game could still have gone either way, with both sides showing great commitment, but it was Syston who might have clinched at the death after a lovely chip over Hinckley’s defence was nearly chased down and it was only the alert full-back Wakelin who got first hands to the ball to save them. Final score Hinckley 7– 7 Syston.
A second development game gave the newer recruits a chance to shine and to their credit they played some very well constructed rugby, going 5 up after a strong run by H Knight opened their account. Syston then countered strongly with two quick tries of their own, and the development side started to look a little disorganised, however following a quick cross field kick by M Davis, A Reid scored to bring Hinckley back into contention. Syston continued to battle, giving little away and making good tackles especially amongst the three quarter line which always threatened the counter attack. The game was effectively settled though when A Holland crashed over from short range for another very good try, W Hayter converting to settle the home nerves. Final score Hinckley Development 17 – 12 Syston.

Hinckley Under 13’s, sponsored by J C Remedials, had an excellent start to their match against Syston, overturning ball following a scrum, followed by great passing from the backs from Mechin to Cooper and onto Tuilagi to score Hinckley’s first. The game settled but Hinckley continued to dominate the play. Well worked recycling of the ball, created a great overlap to Mechin, who then off-loaded to Bustin who went over for the second try, converted by Tuilagi. With Hinckley forwards dominating, quick ball out to Mechin and onto McLeish enabled another score for Hinckley, again converted by Tuilagi. Hinckley back line skills kept Syston under pressure, and a great ball released Cooper who managed to off-load before he went down to Tuilagi, who went on to pass to Mechin for another Hinckley score. With Hinckley 24-0 ahead at half time, Hinckley started the second half as they finished the first. A good clearance kick from Smalley took the ball to within 5 meters of the line, again forcing Syston to play the game in their territory. The game then slowed a little and some changes were made on both sides to refresh the teams. Further well-worked passing from the backs, again released Mechin whose pace carried him over the line to score. Syston then had a burst of play and went on to score between the posts. This continued and the hard work played off with a good pass out to the wing who went over again to score for Syston. Hinckley came back into the game with a good partnership from Mechin to Tuilagi, who scored and converted again for Hinckley. Syston then seized a loose ball and broke away to score their 3rd try and convert, but Hinckley again dominated the play from the scrum and it wasn’t long before Mechin was over his third try for Hinckley, duly converted by Tuilagi. A great game! Final score Hinckley 43 - Syston 17

The Hinckley Under 14’s, sponsored by Williams Recycling, opened strongly against Syston, and quickly established their dominance. Hinckley’s first score came from winning ball from a scrum against the head, with Lally quick to convert Hinckley’s possession into a back line move, which Redhead finished off. A few minutes later and Redhead added a second, gained through another piercing run. Hinckley’s forwards continued to build a solid attacking platform, with flanker West picking up on his own 22 and breaking up field, with a wave of forwards in close support, with Shelton feeding onto Lally for a third score. Two further tries by forwards Bresland and Wilson finished off great support play, which Lally duly converted for a 29-0 half-time lead.
Following a second half reshuffle, and after some settling time for new players and their positions, Hinckley again stepped up a gear, with Harris-Ensor finishing off another great break to score, shortly to be followed by Walsh’s turnover, supplying ball to Shelton, who broke through several tackles to out sprint the defence and score, setting up a perfectly executed Lawrance conversion, for a 41-0 Hinckley winning score – finishing off a great display of team rugby, with this Hinckley team still developing. Man of the Match was awarded to West who stopped anyone carrying a ball that came near him, and opened up several attacking runs for his Hinckley teammates.

In their first County Cup match against Loughborough, Hinckley Under 16’s, sponsored by Hinckley Park Nursing Home went behind early on to last seasons County Champions, before they got some field position and quality play to turn around a 17-0 deficit, resulting in sustained pressure on the Loughborough 22. They continued this into the second half and got themselves back into the match with scores from Crooks and Oatridge who out sprinted the cover from 40 metres. Loughborough scored again, but the Hinckley forwards forced the play close to the Loughborough line, popping Morris over with Oglesby converting. Yet again, Loughborough went further ahead. Hinckley’s driving forward play set up the platform to release the backs and full back Crooks scored again followed by a second Oglesby conversion. With Hinckley only needing a goal to go in front, the match hung in the balance, but Hinckley then conceded a penalty 35 metres out, which Loughborough stretched their lead with to seal the result Hinckley 24 - Loughborough 32.

For further information on any aspect of Hinckley RFC Mini and Juniors please contact the Chairman, Stuart Elder on 07721 407008.

Contact: Nigel Abraham
Press Officer
Telephone 07850 301443