Wilstead weaves magic for Dings

By CHRIS CAMPBELL

Hinckley……………… 17

Dings Crusaders… 20

A late penalty from TJ Wilstead earned Dings Crusaders a narrow victory at Hinckley.

The sides were locked at 17-17 going into the final 20 minutes, but Wilstead held his nerve to seal the win.

Dings played with a strong wind in the first half and, following an early yellow card for James Moreton, Joe Hawkesbury went over from a maul for a converted try.

Hinckley hit back with Callum Dacey and Ben Pointon leading an excellent break for Luke Hibberd to finish superbly. Dacey slotted a superb touchline conversion.

As the wind picked up, getting out of their own half proved problematic, but it looked as if Dings might struggle to get over again in the half after a yellow card for Matt Smith. However, in the final moments, Hawkesbury scored his second try for a 14-7 half-time lead.

In the second half, TJ Wilstead kicked a longrange penalty for Dings early on before two quick tries – one from a maul for Dale Bowyer and the second from Callum Dacey – meant the sides were locked together at 17-17.

The referee's whistle had dominated the scrummaging and he gave Dings a penalty in the 73rd minute, with Wilstead stepping up.