Preston Grasshoppers vs. Hinckley – Kick Off 2.15pm
Preston Grasshoppers welcome infrequent visitors and fellow struggler’s Hinckley RFC to Lightfoot Green this coming Saturday afternoon, after both clubs suffered their fifth defeat of the season last time out.
Our visitors have just one less bonus point than ourselves and sit between Hoppers and bottom of the table Harrogate, positions which both clubs will want to escape from sooner rather than later.
Hinckley have a similar playing record to Preston Grasshoppers this season, winning their opening game at Harrogate before suffering home defeats at the hands of Sale, Sedgley Park and Caldy, who are all currently sit in the top four of the table and Chester who sit seventh at Hare Lane.
This Saturday’s fixture gives both clubs the opportunity to free themselves from the clutches of the dreaded bottom three and both sets of followers will be hoping that it’s their favourites who have started a climb up the table when the final whistle sounds.
Hoppers suffered another close defeat on the road last week this time at Cross Green, once again battering on the home sides line during the final minutes without success. A late converted try during injury time at the end of the first half when it looked like they were about to take a hard earned lead into the dressing rooms cost them dearly and became the deciding factor of the game.
Our visitors make a welcome return to Lightfoot Green after securing promotion to National 2 North at the end of last season with a Play-Off victory over Cheshire side Wirral who aptly reside in that particular part of Merseyside. Our visitors led Midlands 1 for the major part of the season only losing that position after the final league fixture at Scunthorpe who took the spoils together with the title on the day.
Hinckley last graced this level of the rugby pyramid during 1999 and whilst Hoppers gained promotion at the end of that season our visitors fell back into the Midlands Leagues where they resided until last seasons success.
The Midlands Club played Level 4 rugby in what was then named National 3 North for just two seasons and visited Lightfoot Green during each term losing on both occasions, results which were mirrored at their Leicester Road ground. So with Hoppers having a four from four record over this weeks opponents everyone at Lightfoot Green will be hoping the run continues and Hoppers season gets a much needed boost.
Photograph courtesy of Mike Craig – Niall Crosley leads the charge during Hoppers game against Sedgley Park
