Henley Hawks slip to yet another last-gasp defeat

AN injury time Ben Adams penalty subjected Henley Hawks to yet another late National Division 2 East defeat, this time at the hands of Sevenoaks last Saturday.

It was a bitterly disappointing loss for Luke Allen’s men, given the Hawks had worked hard to fashion a two-point lead thanks to Spencer Hayhow’s third try of the game with just minutes remaining.

It was the Hawks’ fourth losing bonus point of the season and highlights how game management at crucial moments is proving to be their undoing.

It was a dry, sunny November day down at Knowle Paddock, and despite the good conditions for running rugby, it was a cagey opening with both sides struggling to find any real cohesion in their attacking play.

However, it was the home side who looked more threatening, and they eventually got themselves on the scoreboard when a well-worked move from a line-out on halfway was spun wide to Josh Livett, with the fullback fending off some poor tackles to dot down out wide. Adams converted, and the home side were ahead 7-0.

Oaks continued to probe away looking to extend their lead, but good defensive work from Henley managed to repel the Kent side’s attack.

Henley were slowly getting a foothold in the contest, and a great interception from Will Baildon saw the Hawks into the Oaks 22 for the first time. Penalised for not releasing, Henley went for the line-out and a powerful driving maul was well finished by captain Spencer Hayhow for their opening score. Baildon was narrowly off target with the extras, but the Hawks were on the scoreboard at 7-5 to the home side.

It was now proving to be an end-to-end contest and Oaks pulled further ahead on the half-hour mark when Cameron Cummings managed to cross the whitewash out wide. Adams converted from the touchline and it was now 14-5 to the home side.

Henley kept fighting and were rewarded with their second score not long before the interval when great interplay from both forwards and backs saw Jimmy Leach over for his first try in a Hawks shirt. Baildon converted, and it was a two-point game again at 14-12.

Oaks had another opportunity just before the break, but somehow squandered the opening much to the Hawks’ relief.

An Adams penalty on
50 minutes made it 17-12 before the game became stop-start with both sides cancelling each other out. However, the home side pulled further clear on the hour mark when Sam Begbie finished out wide following a break through the heart of the Henley defence from Ed Shepherdson. With Adams again proving to be the difference with another faultless conversion, the Hawks had a mountain to climb at 24-12.

With Adams now in the sin bin following a deliberate knock-on, Henley had a chance to get back into the contest, and Hayhow grabbed his second of the game on
69 minutes following another powerful driving maul. Baildon converted well and it was 24-19 heading into the final
10 minutes.

Henley had their tails up and another driving maul opportunity saw Hayhow peel off the back and rampage over from 25 yards out to seal his hat-trick to the delight of the Hawks supporters and playing staff. With Baildon adding the extras, Henley were in the lead for the first time at 26-24.

However, there was to be one last cruel twist, as the Hawks gave possession back to the home side with just a minute remaining, and a probing attack was penalised by referee Connor Boyle for not releasing. With Adams now back on the pitch, and a penalty in front of the posts, it seemed a formality given his form with the boot, and the fly-half calmly slotted the three points to see Oaks home by the narrowest of margins.

Henley Hawks: 15 Baildon,
14 Howe, 13 Leach, 12 C Hayhow,
11 Busby, 10 Snook, 9 Webb, 8 Benning, 7 White, 6 Taylor, 5 Goodison,
4 Elsey, 3 Fakatou, 2 S Hayhow,
1 Collins. Replacements: 16 Kinniburgh, 17 Bailey, 18 Lunnon,
19 White, 20 Wood.