MH Menaces & Rogues vs Hinckley

Game 1: MH Rogues 2 – Hinckley 7
In the opening game, Hinckley opened the score sheet to only have their lead cancelled out by Billy Stamp-Ellam. The visitors quickly grabbed one back but it was all square by half time as Luke Ainsworth drove over the Hinckley try line for his first of the season. The second half was best forgotten by Rogues. Unable to break through the Hinckley line from the re-start Rogues quickly found themselves on the defensive. Superior play at the breakdown and squad discipline led Hinckley to fine win.

Menaces 4:2 Hinckley
Menaces started strongly in their opening game, with Hallam, Earland and Bird combining well to set up Thomas Kemp for his first of many tries. Hinckley soon equalised. A knock on inside the Hinckley half resulted in a Harborough scrum, and quick thinking from scrum half Henry Bellamy saw him dart down the blind side to restore the lead. Hinckley however hadn't read the script and drew level before half time. The second half saw good running from Jacob Holmes and Toby Fletcher, whose pass to Bird then set up Kemp to add his second to restore the lead. The irrepressible Kemp then added his 3rd of the game to secure a 4:2 win.

Game 2: MH Rogues 3 – Hinckley 3
Rogues bounced back in the next game against the second Hinckley team. Although trailing by two try’s after the first half, Rogues quickly moved up a gear in second half. First to rack up a try was George Boucher with his first try this season. Although the visitors got their third, this just inspired Stamp-Ellam to drive again forward to close the gap. Daniel Priestley then added to the Rogues tally to level the game.

Menaces 4:3 Hinckley
A much tighter second game saw Menaces outplayed in the first half and Hinckley were 2:0 ahead at the break. In the second half however, with Morris and Vesty combining well at half backs, they turned it round. First up was Kemp, before Hallam picked the ball up on his own try line to run the length of the pitch to draw level. Kemp then added his second, following a lovely backs move when Bird set him free to sprint down the wing. Hinckley then drew level in a rare second half attack. Williams was a thorn in their side at the breakdown and Kemp wasn't satisfied with the draw and completed his second hatrick of the day to secure a 4:3 win.

Game 3: MH Rogues 8 – Hinckley 10
If it wasn’t for Priestley showing grim determination just before the half time whistle it might have been game over for Harborough. Priestley put on the after burners to surge through the Hinckley defence but all it seemed to be for nothing as Rogues trudged off at half time with a six try “mountain” to climb.

What a comeback in the second half! Ewan Jones added to the Rogues score in quick succession after the break and even though Hinckley got their eighth, Boucher and Priestley soon brought the Harborough score up to five. Hinckley came back on the offensive and scored twice. Even this five try gap didn’t stop the Rogues. Boucher grabbed his third of the day and Priestley rounded off a fine game with two more try’s. Time ran eventually ran out and Rogues suffered a cruel defeat. Player of the day was awarded to Billy Stamp-Ellam for his tackling and surging runs forward.

Menaces 5: 1 Hinckley
Third and final game saw Menaces coping with their tiredness more than the visitors. Kemp was on the scoresheet twice in the first half, along with Bird who ran in from half way and Will Noble. Hinckley pulled one back in the second half, but Frank Clark restored the gap to secure a 5:1 win.