Hinckley RFC 10 - Southend 53
Sep
Southend Go Top.
Southend took to the field full of confidence from last weeks win over Richmond and they dominated from the kick off. They started as they were to continue with the ball being moved quickly from hand to hand.
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Within four minutes Andrew Frost moved into the line from his favoured position at fullback, took the ball some thirty meters out and jinked his way at speed through the Hinkley defence and over the line. His trusty boot converted the try taking Southend into an early lead 0 – 7. A few minutes later he added another three points from a penalty. 0 – 10.
Southend continued to press but lost the ball on the halfway line. A Hinckley player hacked the ball forward toward Southend's try line, it bounced irregularly along the ground with their scrum half Spencer Eke in hot pursuit. Frost seemed to have it covered until the bobbling ball jumped sideways out of his grasp and Eke fell on it to record what was to be Hinkley's only try of the afternoon. Swadling converted and the score moved to 7 – 10.
Southend seemed unconcerned and soon returned to their attacking ways. Again quick distribution and fast hands saw Chris Vaughan make a break, drawing the defence he passed to Lee Guess who dived over for try number two. Frost converted and the score again reflected the play. 7 – 17.
Another two try's followed before the break, one from Dan Boughtwood following an intelligent kick forward from Sonny Gay and the other from Mark Billings. Taking the ball on the run from a series of passes set up from the back of a scrum he outpaced the Hinckley defence and touched down. Frost missed both conversion attempts from wide out into a strong wind so the half finished with Southend in a strong position at 10 – 27, Swalding having converted a penalty between the try's.
Prop Michael Guess was replaced at half time by young Todd Bailey. Normal service resumed and it wasn't long before Chris Vaughan's hard work was rewarded when he touched down for a try of his own following a strong run from Alan Barker. Frost converted and Southend moved into an even
stronger position at 10 – 34.
Mike Stanley came on for his first match of the season replacing Dan Boughtwood and the action continued. Next man in was Chris Waring when Southend's pace of thinking, running and handling undid Hinkley again. Frost converted. 10 – 41.
Five minutes later, with new signing Jo Van Der Molen having replaced Lee Guess, Southend scored another fine try. The ball sped across the field from hand to hand finishing up with winger Danny Cleare who raced along the touchline and scored in the corner. Frost missed the difficult kick
10 – 46. but was on the score sheet once again within in minutes. This time it was his turn to race down the line and score in the corner and he added the conversion for good measure. 10 – 53.
That was how the score was to remain despite a late fifteen minute rally from Hinckley. They laid siege to Southend's line but the defence was to be proved as resilient as the offence had proved entertaining and their efforts went unrewarded.
Another good team performance from Southend with only their line-outs being below par. Throwing to the back of the line in a strong cross wind proved futile and might have proved costly against stronger competition.
Next weekend last seasons third placed Ealing come to Southend, they will be trying to dislodge us from our early lead at the top of the table so it should be a good match
Penalties against: Southend 8 – Hinckley 6.
Alan Grace
