Following on from the close result against Harrogate,  you would have believed the season was on the turn - with 5 subs to choose from the prospects for this trip looked good.  Injuries/unavailability for valid and not so valid reasons however meant we had to make the trip with just 15 men.  Skipper Mike Greenwood kindly stepping in to the front row and Bilal making his first start in the unaccustomed position of right wing.  The weather was good, the pitch firm, all was set for a fine game of rugby.

The first scrum resulting from a knock on from the kick off left us all feeling buoyed as we pushed the Hemsworth scrum back and put pressure on their back line.  The opening 20 minutes was a fairly even affair as both sides played good tight rugby.  Both lineouts worked well and we were certainly on top in the scrums for the first time this season.   Brown and Weaving played clever, positional rugby with some good kicks to the corners and it was one such crossfield kick from Brown that brought the first try.  Putting it long and behind the right winger, he clearly panicked as he heard Nulty galloping behind him, fumbled, Nulty gathered and got held up.  After waiting for ten minutes for  Hinchliffe to catch up Nulty offloaded and Hinchliffe, realising that ten metres was too far, drew the fullback and passed nicely to full back Dean to score on his first start this season.  Weaving converted for a deserved 7-0 lead.

The score brought a strong reaction from Hemsworth and they pushed us back.  Feeling the pressure we gave away a few needless penalties giving away important field position and the chance of some points which fortunately weren't taken.  However, the Hemsworth backline got moving and when their full back came in to the line 5 metres out a sure try was on the cards, however great scrambled defence saw the ball spilled over the line from at least knee high above the turf, amazingly the referee awarding the try stating he was unsighted and, despite many protestations that in that instance the benefit goes to the defending side, the try was given.  The Hemsworth winger failed to convert and the score was 7-5.

Good play from the kick off saw the forwards drive and ruck their way up the pitch and eventually a penalty was awarded which Weaving knocked over 10-5 and we were starting to play with confidence.  A well worked backs move on half way put Nulty through a gap, he sidestepped two defenders before going over wide out, conversion was missed but we were two scores up, 15-5 and half time arrived with us all needing a breather after some great defence from both forwards and backs.

Unfortunately our lack of experience at leading in games showed as we played very nervously for the next 25 minutes, allowing Hemsworth to build up some great pressure on our line.  Their flyhalf and full back utilising their long kicking skills, the slope and the shortness of the pitch to push us back into our twenty two time and time again, Bilal and Dean coped well under the pressure of very good kick chasing but we were defending lineout after lineout in our twenty two and the strain was starting to tell.  A few tired forwards led to a few knocks and the lack of a subs bench was starting to pray on our minds when Hemsworth forced the way over the line from a 5 metre scrum, conversion was kicked and we were only 15-12 up.  They were starting to get the upperhand up front with the ability to bring on some fresh legs and we were clearly nervous.  However, this is where our metal really showed.  The forwards led by man of the match Nesbit, really dug in and won us some much needed ball and ground and led to Brown, Weaving and Amos to kick us up into the Hemsworth 22 to put some pressure on their line.  Following one of these kicks the clearance down the right wing was scooped up by Bilal, seeing the space inside immediately passed it to Dean who in turn threw a long pass out to Nulty.  Nulty ran around the Hemsworth outside backs to get in behind, the cover came across and he chipped inside.  The ball took a kindly bounce into Hinchliffe's grateful hands and John then went over from 9 metres out (any further and he'd have needed support).  This was the lift we needed, Weaving converted and the ten point cushion was restored.

The remaining ten/fifteen minutes were really about our defence.  We'd shown how good it could be the week before but this time everyman stood up to be counted.  Some big hits were going in by all the forwards, from 1-8 they really earned their pints after the game.  Some great defence also in the backs meant Hemsworth were left pondering how they were going to break us down, Hinchliffe in particular put in some great smother tackles to slow the release of the ball and allow us time to recover the lines.

It was with some relief by everyone when the referee's whistle blew to end the game.  From 1-15 the lads really deserved the win and we hope this will lead us onto many more this season.  However it is really important to note that we really need to have subs available as if Nesbit and Greenwood's injuries had been any more serious the result could have been different.  Well played lads.