Sat 17 Oct 2026, 15:00
National 2 West .
Hornets welcomed Loughborough to a warm sunny Nest in the latest league action and the end of a very bruising first block of 7 games.
Loughborough came into this game full of confidence after beating hot favourites for the league Luctonians last week.
This was always going to be a great matchup and the visitors haven't won a game on the road and neither had Hornets won at Home this season and so something was going to have to give and in an absolute try fest it was Hornets who edged out the Students by 6 points after both sides scored 7 tries each.
On the occasion of his 50th Cap the impressive No.8 Corey Baker led the team onto the pitch and his superb performance helped in what was a fantastic effort all round.
It didn't take long for Hornets to open their account when electric winger Josh Sheppard got on the end of a sweeping move and after 1 minute Hornets set the scene. 5-0.
Loughborough's fast attacking play was rewarded after 4 minutes and the scores were level. 5-5.
Hornets were attacking at strength but in a flash, as you get with University sides the visitors had opened up a lead 5-12.
Only for Hornets to get one back through Sonny Davis following from great close forward play and Jamie Elswood leveled it. 12-12.
Loughborough got another followed by Hornets through Charlie Carter and after 24 minutes the scores stood at 17-19.
On 32 minutes Loughborough got another converted try before in quick succession Adam Francis followed up by Sheppard and 2 conversions by Elswood and the halftime whistle blew and Hornets had opened up a lead 31 points to 26. And Breathe.
The second half continued at a breathless pace and after 12 minutes the Students had the lead back 31-38.
Next, came a typical Carter try when a chipped ball through from the Loughborough winger found the full back 10 out from his own line, he set off as only Charlie does, got to the halfway line when confronted by the full back, his clever grubber kick and the bounce was sublime, he collected the ball on the 22 and raced into the Weston and North Kewstoke corner !
This was followed up as a box kick by James Murray was dropped on halfway by Loughborough which was picked up by Hornets and in a flash Sheppard had a 2 on 1 and the perfect pass found Francis and Elswood's 2 conversions and had Hornets at 45 to Loughborough's 38.
A foul play penalty right in front of the posts, Elswood was asked by his Skipper Kieran Ward to kick the goal and extend their lead which he did.48-38.
Never relax against a Uni side as they come from everywhere and they got another well worked try in the corner and closed the gap.48-45
Now with just 7 minutes left Hornets knew that the best form of defence is attack and they got deep into the Students half and another penalty and Elswood replicated his last kick and the lead stretched again.
Hornets, from the restart just had to control the ball and through the cool head of Alex Hawkins saw the game out of time and the final clearance kick allowed the ref to blow the final whistle. Final Score Hornets 51 Loughborough Students 45.
In a pulsating game full of entertainment and tries the first 7 games are completed and a much earned rest now next week for Hornets as the tough start to the season finds them sat in 9th place on 17 points and 2 wins just one place behind Lymm who are Hornets's next opponents on Halloween in Deepest Darkest Cheshire.
