Hinckley RFC Latest News

After an excellent encounter at Leicester Rd Broad Street cemented the view that they were a quality side with no overall weakness within their outfit.  Hinckley played well all match however greater experience and a little bit of extra quality saw the Coventry side finish strongly and extend the lead to a greater extent than the game had suggested.

Two tries in the last 2 mins gave the impression that the game was dominated by Broad Street but this was not the case as both sides had and missed chances throughout the game. Hinckley finished the game realising that playing the referee is often as important as playing the game and go into Saturday’s all important game against Bedford Atheltic with eyes wide open into the task at hand in the pre-christmas period!!

Newsflash… I am a Dad!

That’s right; the world of rugby take note, the next generation of Hinckley superstars are coming! Welcome to the world Alfie Armour Digger! And congratulations to Tara “Tough Nut” Dignum, officially my hero, who put in all the hard graft; the analogy, her being the typical rugby forward (no hooker gags if you please) doing all the pushing and shoving and how very typical of a girlie back; namely me, to grab all the glory at the end! At a whopping 8lb15oz I think Alfie might be packing down in Hinckley First Team’s front row one day soon, probably alongside my good friend Dave Massarella when he’s still making the side at sixty years old!

Rugby has become a bit of a distant memory in the past few weeks, something I never thought I would hear myself say. Everyone involved in sport especially rugby will know the levels of commitment required to compete at this relatively high level and moreover the feeling of wanting to be around it all the time. From an early age, I used to always crave for the weekend and my next game of rugby. Even through schooling and examination years I unfortunately opted for the playing the rugby village idiot card a lot of the time and concentrated a lot harder on rugby than education. At weekends I would regularly play for JCC in the morning, run down Leicester Road to play for Pete Curtis’ Hinckley Colts in the afternoon and then play on the Sunday morning as well, plus a couple of midweek games for good measure just to ensure there was really no room at all for school and increased brain power!

I love these memories and would not trade them, ever… However no rugby for me of late with bigger things on; rugby provides exhilaration, though nothing compared to the feeling of Alfie arriving - I now know why I, and we men were put on the planet! While on the subject of babies, this will likely form the basis of today’s Scrum Down with Rob Dignum column… The similarity and tangible link between babies and Hinckley’s clan of Massarella’s - believe me there are as many similarities as there are Massarella’s!

Richard “Crud” Massarella, the elder of the coaching trio is the first to be compared to a baby… Rich takes charge of coaching the backline, behind Paul Walsh and was a scrum half by trade himself. His boyish good looks and sexy Fireman appeal makes him irresistible to both babies and the opposite sex, alas Richard rather unfortunately is currently undergoing a bit of a midlife crisis. He can often be seen trying to pass himself off as a student in appearance, donning a tight t-shirt, a designer scarf and frayed jeans. Talk amongst the camp is that Crud is attempting to model himself on some of the nineteen year olds currently in his backline, most likely on Jonno Eke. In his heyday Richard’s scrum half pass had all the power behind it of a medium sized toddler. Truly heroic as acting immaturely, Richard is a good friend, coach and human being.

Head Coach Phil “Wobbly Head” Massarella, without doubt the biggest baby veteran I know. Phil is a good friend, embarrassingly so, because as I too get older, he has to make the unenviable decision of dropping me on a weekly basis. Phil, as with elder brother Richard is having difficulty deciding on his age and dressing himself; a lot of the time modelling himself on his student nephew Sam Massarella. When I first met Phil, he was old, but he did it in such a way that as an impressionable youngster, I thought it looked good on him! I thought if he could be so immature at such an old age it gave me some hope as one day I too would be ancient. Phil, as a previous First Team Captain and now Coach often takes a lead role in all goings on. He has a very funny however juvenile knack of making other people look and feel dim. He is in charge of selection and coaching the forwards, behind Paul Walsh and is the only person I know that can smoke and drink through his ears! Phil has the unfortunate disposition of looking like Bert from Sesame Street; however is a fantastic chum and coach and the reason behind Hinckley’s success in recent years.

Lastly, Dave “Bungy” Massarella, a true Hinckley legend, back in the First Team at the grand age of forty! Dave is one of my favourite people on the planet and it was my honour to be an usher at his wedding to the lovely Hannah. Links between Dave and Babies are substantial with two lovely baby daughters of his own. Similarities do not end there however; Bung, loves nappies! Also you can bet your mortgage that around 6pm on a Saturday, an inebriated Bungy can be found in the Hinckley RFC Clubroom talking through all things rugby with everyone and anyone; unfortunately often in a language that nobody other than a newborn could understand. Dave is in charge of front row coaching, behind Paul Walsh and is the epitome of all things good about Hinckley RFC and is irreplaceable both on the rugby field and as a mate.

While the Massarella’s may be infantile, their rugby experience and knowledge is second to none and Hinckley RFC will be looking to them for some guidance in the tough run of games up to Christmas. Next up Bedford Athletic away, a side that are second from bottom in the league but who beat Newport just seven days after Newport had annihilated Hinckley; work that out… Midlands One continues to throw up peculiar results on a weekly basis; last Saturday saw league leaders Luctonians lose, Malvern record their first win, 34-0 no less and Kettering recording a rare win, impressively away at Welford Road at the expense of South Leicester.

After Bedford, Hinckley have drawn an interesting tie in the third round of the Intermediate Cup, Burton at home… Burton are coached by former Hinckley coaches Mick Davey and Karl Ashfield, Father of current Hinckley skipper Ben Ashfield! They are currently leading the league below and look set to join Hinckley in the top flight and return to Midlands One next season.

I believe Hinckley got promoted at exactly the right time last season, as the strength of leagues from year to year tends to be as unpredictable as one of Richard Massarella’s passes. At the end of last season, friends at Syston RFC were very quick to tell me how Hinckley would likely be relegated in one season at the same time Syston getting promoted and that they would spare us a sarcastic wave as we two clubs metaphorically crossed paths and swapped leagues: how wrong they were - currently fourth in Midlands Two, their chances of promotion fading with each passing week. Suffice to say, Burton will be no easy fixture.

The following week, just five days before Christmas marks the half way point of the season and the start of all return fixtures, first up Malvern away. Hinckley recently disposed of Malvern at home with ease coasting to a 29-0 victory, Malvern lucky to get nil they were that bad. However with the bit between their teeth, fighting for Midlands One survival and playing at their Spring Lane home with the picturesque backdrop of the Malvern hills on a chilly Worcestershire day is by no means a given either, I have had some dark days there and Hinckley, while correctly taking one game at a time, should take note of this potential banana skin.  

Thank you to all of you for all your wonderful support and presents to Alfie Armour Digger, with a special mention to two fine individuals and Leicester Road legends, Tom Walton and Mark Davey for all of their brilliant paternal advice. And to the immature but mega Massarella’s, their wonderful lust for life, for giving us all hope of being old and still young at heart, moreover their rugby know how that will no doubt steer Hinckley men to another successful season. While they are doing that in the cold, I shall be in the warm entertaining Alfie and cleaning up vomit.

Sunday 30th November 2008
 
This was a fast end to end contest at times, both teams after the win. With a lot of good play all over the field, Hinckley took the lead after 9 minutes. Stringer touching down, then shortly afterward Shardlow scoring and Haughian adding 2 points, with Beaty scoring Hinckley’s 3rd try of the half and Bosworth getting one back to make it 17 – 5 at half time.
 
At the restart Bosworth went for it with a good break out to make it 17 – 10.  Piling on the pressure paid dividends with their 3rd try, a well worked push for the line. Unfortunately the kick for goal hit the right post keeping the score 17 – 15 in Hinckley’s favour. Bosworth came back at Hinckley again, and again Hinckley holding out and held up a certain try on the line, and then with a couple of minutes remaining kicking down field and from the resulting attack at Bosworth, Bexton went through a gap the take the final tally to HINCKLEY 22 – 15 MKT BOSWORTH.  Both teams showed great determination and good skills on what was a bitterly cold morning.
 

Sunday 30th November 2008
 
Five of the Hinckley Vixens Under 15’s (sponsored by Paynes Garages and Bardon Aggregate) represented Leicestershire at County level on Sunday 30th November at Berkswell and Balsall RFC.
They played 4 quarters against Warwickshire. Bekki Collings, Kayti Bowler, Emma Spencer, Charlotte Reeves and Fern Warlow all played well with some good tackling from all the Hinckley girls. Warwickshire were the first to score taking the score to 12 0 in the first quarter. Warwickshire took advantage of their early lead and added a further 2 tries in the 2nd quarter making the score 22 0. Leicestershire came back in the fourth quarter winning a scrum and lineout  from which Charlotte Reeves went over the try line only for the ball to be held up. This led to a 5m scrum with a Leicestershire ball and a try was scored making the final score 34 – 5 to Warwickshire. Coaches were impressed with our girls performances and hope to be well represented in the next county match  on 14th December at Newark. A promising performance from all who took part.
 
If you are aged between 13 – 18 and would like to play rugby please contact Helen Parkin, Hinckley RFC Vixens, U15s and U18s Team Manager, on 07793 754384 for further details.
 

Sunday 30th November 2008
 
A good start to the game with Hinckley spending the first fifteen minutes in Harborough’s half of the pitch but the teams were evenly matched in Hinckley’s attacking play and Harborough’s defence.  The pressure soon paid off as Bustin passed the ball out to Norton who ran to score in the corner, no conversion.  Again Hinckley piled on the pressure and keeping the ball in Harborough’s half and good driving skills Nurse took the ball over for the second try for Hinckley, no conversion.  Half time score Hinckley 10 Harborough 0.
 
The first few minutes of the second half caught Hinckley napping and Harborough made the most of it but were unable to cross the line.  Hinckley regrouped and quick ball from the scrum and a pass out to Machin who kicked towards the corner enabled Smalley to catch and run onto score, no conversion.  Hinckley maintained good play and came close to scoring twice but Harborough put up good defence but couldn’t keep Hinckley out with Whitehurst going over near the posts to make it their fourth try, no conversion.  Final score Hinckley 20 Harborough 0.