David bags hat-trick as depleted side triumph

HENLEY 2nds maintained their 100 per cent record in Counties 1 Tribute Ale Southern North last Saturday as they ran out winners at Bletchley.

Due to illness and injuries Henley travelled with a squad of just 15 players.

Bletchley kicked off and Henley’s forwards got to work with strong carries making hard yards trying to stretch the home defence. The visitors moved the ball from one side to another to get them beyond the gain line where it was recycled and moved to centre Tom David who sprinted in untouched.

Henley then lost skipper Jake Rawcliffe to a nasty knee injury to leave them with just 14 players for the remaining 70 minutes.

Whilst Henley were regrouping, Bletchley attacked strongly and forced mistakes from Henley. First they had a penalty which they struck over, they then had a two-man advantage when Henley lost a player to sin bin leaving them with 13 players for 10 minutes.

Bletchley pinned Henley in their half, then their backs used the man advantage well to create the overlap to finish well and take the lead.

Henley defended well, the back row of Isaac Small, Christian Floyd and Morgan Poiner leading a huge effort. Small, with a 60m dash, scored a stunning individual effort.

With Henley back to 14 men, they scored on the stroke of half-time, a break from Will Cassar took play up to the red zone where the ball was recycled and moved to Barney Stentiford who crashed over to put Henley 17-8 ahead at half-time.

The second half was an attrition affair, where both teams tested each other out. The next score came from the backs as David dotted down for his second of the match. Theo scored after a break by Sichel that took play inside the 22m zone. The ball was recycled and it a pass from Jimmy Leach to his brother Will, who dotted down.

Bletchley came back with a score and were relentless with their effort. Henley held out as much as they could spending five minutes on their try line but Bletchley eventually crossed.

Henley bounced straight back with a try of their own, Ross Lewis at scrum half getting the ball on a plate for him to allow Henley to play with speed. He fed Cassar who threw a long pass to put winger Joe Beesley in space, who ran hard, stayed well on his feet to feed Will Leach to collect the ball and score in the corner.

Henley’s forwards battered towards the line where the ball was fed to David who stepped his way to the try line to complete his hat-trick.