Paul Arnold’s proud despite Preston Grasshoppers’ 16th defeat of the campaign

Unlike several other National League Two North grounds, Lightfoot Green didn’t succumb to “Storm Dennis” on Saturday.

But Preston Grasshoppers were no match for “Hurricane” Hinckley as the Midlanders stormed to a comfortable five-try victory.

In all, five of the eight games scheduled in this league at the weekend were called off, but once again Preston’s all-weather pitch came through triumphantly. Not so the team itself, unfortunately.

Many of those present – including visitors from Hinckley – agreed with head coach Paul Arnold’s assessment.

Arnold said: “They weren’t 30 points better than us.”

But Hoppers made too many mistakes and wasted some clear-cut chances, exhibiting a degree of panic as the prospect of a 16th defeat of the season started to look inevitable.

“I’m still quite proud of the lads,” said Arnold, newly appointed as forwards coach of the Lancashire squad for the forthcoming County Championship.

“We created enough but our decision-making let us down. It’s all about getting the accuracy right.

“There were some nerves about – the lads are playing for their contracts for next year – and it was disappointing how easily Hinckley got their tries.

“I told them to play with a smile, give 100 per cent for their mates and tackle as low and hard as they could. It’s good that some young lads have had their chance in the first team.”

In wild and wet conditions, Hinckley started with a rush. Two early chances went begging but, when Hoppers lost a line-out near their own line, the ball was moved left and then rapidly right for hooker Adam Johnson to power over, with Joe Wilson converting.

The hosts hit straight back with a 30-metre penalty by Jake Squirrell, but were unable to add anything in the remaining 70 minutes.

Meanwhile, Hinckley steadily built a commanding score, winger Callum Daley breaking several tackles to make it 14-3 after 20 minutes, with Wilson converting his try.

Hoppers had chances of their own in the second quarter, but those signs of over-eagerness and lack of control were already becoming apparent, with Jacob Browne unable to hold the ball after a run by Tyler Spence and another wayward pass ruining a blindside break by Ben Dorrington, later praised by his coach for a “classy” all-round display.

Hoppers put themselves under immediate pressure after the restart and Johnson rumbled over from a line-out, with Wilson again converting.

Arnold took the opportunity to give game time to youngsters such as Tyler Sloane, Ewan Naylor, Rob Meadows and Will Clapham.

But there was no breaching Hinckley’s solid defensive line, although Clapham was unlucky to receive a marginally forward pass after a defence-splitting break by Browne, who also couldn’t cling onto the ball after a run to the line by Will Davidson.

Dorrington’s performance – which featured some great defensive work as well as attacking threats – was only marred by a yellow card, and a penalty try, after Premiership referee Ian Tempest adjudged that he had illegally attempted to stop a Hinckley try following a kick-and-chase.

The numbers were temporarily evened up when Hinckley centre Josh Smith was also sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on.

But the visitors had the last word when Johnson completed the rare feat for a hooker of claiming a hat-trick to round off a sustained Storm Dennis-style battering of the Preston line.

Hoppers have a week off before embarking on their last seven games of a tough season, which has now seen them go six games without a win and record just one victory and two draws in 15 games since the end of November.