LUCTONIANS were ruing some late referee decisions against them and missed opportunities as they fell to a narrow 26-20 defeat to Hinckley.

After the Christmas break Lucs were slow to get going and the visitors scored a eighth minute try following a scrum five-metres out.

John Morris reduced the deficit with a penalty only to see Joseph Wilson sprint clear to score his side's second try.

The fight-back began on 28 minutes when Aiden Cheshire fed through Rob Lewis to score a converted try as Hinckley led 12-10 at half-time.

After the break Lucs tried to take control of the tie and Lewis went over the whitewash for a second try to put his side ahead for the first time.

Morris also added a penalty as Luctonians looked on their way to a comfortable home win.

However, a controversial try, which the home fans claimed was a forward pass, saw Hinckley come back into the tie through Rory Vowles.

There was more grumblings over the visitors' fourth try moments later which sealed the away win.

"I thought we played quite well and were probably better than them in most parts of the game," said Luctonians head coach Ryan Watkins.

"There was a very big decision from the referee and the touch judge to not award us a try which would have probably seen the game out.

"There was also a forward pass that he (the referee) didn't spot, so there was a couple of big decisions which could have changed the game and didn't go our way.

"We played well and did some good things. The defence and attack were pretty good so I don't want to dwell on the performance.

"But we could be better at home and put the game out of their reach.

"There wasn't a lot in the first half and they probably had more territory.

"In the second half we got into our kicking game and put the ball in their corner.

"We did some good stuff in the second half, unfortunately we didn't take our chances and decisions didn't go our way."

Watkins said his side should be confident this weekend travelling to mid-table Chester.

He added: "We can compete with them in quite a lot of areas.

"We go there with confidence after a good performance."