At the business end of any season, almost by definition, sides struggling at the wrong end of the table are often at their most dangerous, particularly on home turf. Hornets had been victim to that truth on their recent visit to bottom club Devonport just two weeks previously, and it was therefore with some trepidation that the Hinckley faithful travelled to twelfth placed side Macclesfield who had recorded a rare victory over Exeter University in their last encounter at Priory Park. Macclesfield’s announcement earlier in the week that they would be fielding the biggest pack of the season and that they had secured the services of two on-loan players from Championship side Caldy did little to allay Hinckley nerves, and a general sense of optimism from the home support greeted the Hinckley men as they ran out for the game.

The Blues did start well matching Hinckley try for try in a first fifteen minutes that yielded four tries, but after that Hornets gradually pulled away to record what was in the end a convincing bonus point victory that saw them leapfrog Old Redcliffians into ninth position in the League. There was never a feeling of utter dominance, and indeed there were a couple of wobbly periods, most notably just after the interval following the loss of Devon Coulson to injury, but Hinckley were quicker of thought, more clinical in execution, and possessed by far the more incisive back division who, much as they did against Bournville last week, were able to tear holes in the home defence. Amongst the forwards, Jack Ramshaw was colossal, Jack Hewitt had perhaps his best game in black and gold, and Man of the Match Nigel Mukerati punched holes in the Blues defensive line at will. Ben Pointon was always dangerous on his return from illness, Mitch Lamb, Callum Dacey and Will Callan were electric, and Rory Vowles was, well, Rory Vowles. Overall, Hinckley again showed that they are a match for anyone in the division on their day.

‘It was great to come away with win and put 50 points on the board, There were moments of outstanding attacking Rugby from the boys,’ commented Defence Coach Ben Avent after the game. ‘The way we moved the ball and finished off some of those scores was very pleasing to see.’

‘That said,’ continued Avent, ‘we know we need to manage the game better in certain areas. We gave Macclesfield too many opportunities through our own errors, and this is something we'll look to tidy up moving forward. But credit to the group, the attitude and work rate was outstanding, especially with a 6pm kick off away from home. The boys fronted up, stayed focused and got the job done.’

First blood went to Hornets. A catch and drive from a penalty line-out 5m out from the Blues’ line was held, but after Dacey got within a metre, George Patten was driven over for the score.

But Blues responded immediately, securing a penalty from the restart which was kicked to 5m and the catch and drive was carried over with ominous ease by the big Macclesfield pack, flanker Harry Hughes claiming the score.

Back came Hinckley, from yet another penalty line-out. The ball was sent left, Lamb created a hole in the Blues’ line, and Pointon was able to dart through in typical fashion for the try. Vowles added the extras this time.

Macclesfield’s turn. Hornets failed to deal with the restart kick (not for the last time in the game), and Blues were able to set up a try out-wide for wing Jamie Harrison - two tries apiece in 15 minutes. It was entertaining stuff but neither defence coach would have been happy with what they had seen.

It was at that point, however, that Hinckley seized control of the game with three tries in a ten-minute spell of absolute dominance. First, Josh Kent drove over after another line-out 5m. Then Callan broke through the defensive line from a 15m line-out after Macclesfield had knocked the ball into touch from Dacey’s clearing kick from the restart. And finally, a series of penalties deep in the Macclesfield half yielded a try for Dacey, breaking the line close in. Vowles converted all three to take the score to 10-33.

That ended the scoring for the half but the sight of Coulson having to be replaced immediately before the break did cause some alarm amongst away support…and not without reason.

The Blues returned after the break with renewed resolve and enjoyed perhaps their best period of the game. A poor kick from Vowles inside his own 22m set up a Macclesfield line-out 20m out from the Hinckley line, and Blues were able to work the ball to the line for Hughes to claim his second. When Charlie Attis added the conversion, Hinckley looked a little vulnerable

The next score was crucial…. and it was Hinckley’s. A Macclesfield late tackle on the Hinckley 22m allowed Vowles to set up a line-out just inside the Hinckley half. The ball was claimed, fed right, Dacey broke the line, offloaded to Lamb, onto Callan who went under the posts. The conversion made it 17-40.

Blues did respond with a classic catch drive from the pack to pull it back to 22-40 but when Hinckley came back with a near carbon-copy of their own nine minutes later (Murray Davidson touching down) the spell was broken.

Macclesfield overthrew their own line-out (not for the first time) on their own 22m. Murray Davidson pounced on the loose ball and carried over the line under the posts to give Vowles an easy conversion. With ten minutes remaining, the game was up. Billy Birkett did go over for the Blues in a frenetic last few minutes as Macclesfield chased the bonus point but it was way too much to ask at that stage and Hornets hung on with relative ease to leave the Blues still mired in the relegation dog-fight.

Nick Robinson