Hornets provide a sting for Westcliff

By NICK CROWE

Westcliff………. 12

Hinckley………..22

A LAST-MOVE penalty denied Westcliff a bonus point which they richly deserved, in a match which, on another day, they could have won.

An efficient first-half display against opponents, who have shown themselves to be a formidable unit, saw the home side deservedly 12-0 up at half-time, playing with great spirit and flair, building on their victory the week before.

Tries from Jack Hogarth and Seyi Ajeigbe, one converted by Greg Bannister represented a fair reward for Westcliff 's endeavour.

Sadly for Westcliff, this level is unforgiving, and within ten minutes of the second half, Hinckley had roared back to score three tries, courtesy of Shae Nixon, Alex Salt and a cruel interception try from Toby Baldwin, from a position where Westcliff might well have scored themselves, had Baldwin not been in the right place at the right time.

Two tries were converted by Callum Rowe, leaving Westcliff needing to score to level things.

Several enterprising breaks had Hinckley on the ropes, but, frustratingly, possession was lost on more than one occasion when the line beckoned.

In the last moments of the game, a loose ball from another Westcliff attack saw Hinckley race away again, and from the resulting breakdown the referee adjudged Westcliff to have infringed, to allow Rowe to leave Westcliff pointless and ruing what might have been.