With the clock deep into the red, full-back Luke Daniels broke Hinckley’s hearts as he squeezed into the corner, securing a hard-fought eleventh consecutive win for Clifton against a resilient Hinckley, who had led the scoring on three occasions.

The decisive try was superbly converted from the touchline by Clifton Sausage Man of the Match Ollie Milner, whose flawless kicking performance complemented his attacking flair. Strong-running centres Marcus Nel and Will Owen were pivotal in driving Clifton forward, supported by a committed team effort, with the pack excelling in both tight and loose play.

Hinckley, renowned for their defensive tenacity, have significantly improved their all-round game this season. Clifton’s determination to win was fuelled by the memory of their last defeat, which came at Hinckley back in October, and the knowledge that their next fixture is a first-versus-second showdown at Camborne.

An early Rory Vowles penalty was quickly overturned by two Clifton tries. Second-row Toby Hutchinson powered over to open Clifton’s account, followed by scrum-half Mitch Spencer, who capitalised on a disrupted Hinckley scrum to pounce on a bouncing ball.

Although Clifton appeared to gain the upper hand, the scoreline continued to swing. Rafe Witheat initially reduced the deficit before his team took the lead. After the interval, a well-executed move sent Billy Pasco over the line, with Vowles’ conversion putting Hinckley ahead. The lead shifted again when Spencer set up winger AK Kilbane for a try, only for Witheat to respond with his second score. Regular try-scorer flanker Jay Evans then crossed to keep Clifton in the contest.

The match, largely fought in midfield, had the crowd on edge. Two late Hinckley tries by Matt Guilfoyle and Callum Dacey, both converted by Vowles, along with an additional penalty, seemed to set the East Midlanders on course for victory.

However, Clifton refused to relent. Intense pressure on Hinckley’s line earned a penalty try, and Daniels’ late heroics clinched the win. This crucial victory secured second place in the league table and heightened expectations for Clifton’s trip to face league leaders Camborne.

Report by Roger Opie

Photo by Ian Clark (Luke Daniels scores the last minute try to seal the win)