Old Albanian………..26
Hinckley………………28
NERVELESS Rory Vowles kicked a lastgasp conversion as Hinckley snatched victory at Old Albanian.
Alex Noot’s 75th minute try looked to have won it for the home side, but Ben Pointon crossed two minutes from time and Vowles held his nerve to seal the win.
In the first quarter, Albanian could do little wrong. After concerted pressure, Greg Lound placed a delicate grubber behind the floundering defence and Noot grounded the ball. Dan Watt goaled.
Nic Defeo scored the second home try after half an hour following huge Albanian pressure and Watt again converted. Watt did not need the tee when the hosts were awarded a penalty try five minutes later.
The visitors started to dominate possession before half-time, but the Albanian defence held firm until Dale Bowyer bundled over and Vowles converted.
Two minutes into the second half, a testing kick led to a Josh Smith try and Vowles goaled.
Pressure from Hinckley eventually told and a penalty try was given, along with the automatic conversion, with ten minutes left.
OAs regrouped and Noot scored, but there was still time for scrumhalf Pointon to score and Vowles settled matters.
TEAMS
OLD ALBANIAN: Wicks, Mills, Defeo, Watt, Noot, Sound, McPhun, Ramzanpour, Bond, Samuel, Napier, Kingswell-Watts, Illston, Terry-Brown, Charnock
Replacements: Warren, Butcher, Nkwocha, Melton, Jones
HINCKLEY: Vowles, Lamb, Nixon, Smith, Kelly, Rowe, Pointon, Greening, Bowyer, Peck, Weaver, Fearn, Florestein, Bower, Povoas
Replacements: Harvey, Groocock, Coltman, Hamilton, Leonard
REFEREE: Simon Waite
Star man
Rory Vowles – Hinckley
