Sat 10 Sep 2022, 14:30
Hornets welcomed Barnstaple to The Nest which is the home of National League rugby in Weston-super-Mare and it was a highly entertaining and somewhat frustrating afternoon for the large crowd as Hornets missed out to a last-minute penalty kick by the visitors who won by a single point.
The game was preceded as per RFU protocol with a minute’s silence with everyone reflecting on the devastating news this week of the passing of Her Majesty The Queen.
We at Hornets RFC would like to thank Her Majesty for all her long service and our thoughts are with The Royal Family at this time. As per protocol the flag at Hornets was lowered to half-mast in memory of the Queen, raised again to commemorate the new King and then lowered again on Sunday to half-mast.
Long live The King!
After last week's encouraging performance at Leicester Lions Hornets went into this game with an expectation of hopefully getting their first win at this level and started well but Barnstaple are a good outfit with key strike runners and they were the first on the scoresheet with a well taken penalty goal.0-3.
Hornets were awarded a scrum on halfway and the dominance by Hornets front row was to put the visitors under pressure all afternoon. Parker broke at 8 and round the corner came Josh Lloyd who made inroads, the quick ball sped down the line and Charlie Carter cut through to score in the corner.8-3.
Barnstaple then attacked and had Hornets under enormous pressure but their defence was strong and kept them out and eventually won a penalty and Jamie Elswood was able to clear.
Hornets now had a lineout on halfway and a Barnstaple infringement saw Hornets awarded a penalty kick at goal but the kick just sailed wide.
From the 22 drop out Hornets set up good ball but were guilty of giving up possession too easily and when Barnstaple attacked. Skipper Matt Parker went for the intercept but spilt the ball and was adjudged to have a deliberately knocked the ball on and so was sent to the bin for 10 minutes.
Hornets now were a man down and Barnstaple saw their chance and set up a series of attacks but Hornets were sound in defence and Hornets were able to attack for themselves and had the visitors deep inside their own 22 but a couple of missed tackles on the full back allowed the visitors to break clear and eventually score a well taken try and conversion.8-10
Barnstaple were awarded a penalty on halfway right on halftime and the kick at goal and the visitors went into the break up 13-8.
Hornets now had the ascendancy in the second half and a break by Adam Francis and Hornets were deep into Barnstable's half and another penalty and Elswood slotted it to reduce their lead.11-13.
Hornets now were feeling confident and eventually Hornets were awarded another penalty and the young fly half did the honours again and Hornets were in front.14-13.
Hornets now were sensing the surge and a chip through and the ball carried over the line led to a 5m scrum to Hornets and so set up a series of scrums, penalties and missed opportunities and more penalties, Hornets were expecting the referee to get fed up with the red zone penalty count and get awarded a penalty try or a try for themselves but that didn't happen and eventually Carter went over in the corner and so Hornets had opened up a slender lead.19-13.
Unfortunately, Hornets were not able to deal with the restart efficiently and a penalty to Barnstaple and the inevitable kick to the corner and catch and drive lineout and conversion led to the change in lead again.19-20.
Again, Hornets were on the attack and again a series of scrums on the visitor’s line and again infringements but not enough for a card or penalty try and eventually Parker decided on the kick at goal to go up again 22-20 with a couple of minutes left.
The restart appeared to many that it didn’t go 10 but the referee disagreed and Hornets were guilty of being offside and a penalty on Hornets 10m line and one more chance for their excellent kicker to put the points on the board again right at the death and ultimately win the game. Final score Hornets 22 Barnstaple 23.
Hornets felt frustrated that they couldn’t get their first win of the season and too many missed opportunities and lack of control in key areas leaves plenty to ponder over this week before the long trip to Redruth next week.
