Tadley take advantage of Hawks injury to wrap up league encounter

HENLEY HAWKS 1sts went down to a 65-49 defeat against FALCONS in their Berkshire Premier League Division 2 clash.

The opening quarter saw both teams settle quickly, with Falcons’ sharp shooting and height advantage in the circle giving them an early lead.

Despite tireless defensive work from the Hawks, Falcons edged ahead 17-10 at the first break.

In the second quarter, Hawks began to find their rhythm through the mid-court, linking up well in attack and showing determination to close the gap. The defensive unit worked relentlessly, forcing Falcons into errors and confusing the pass into the D. At half-time, Falcons extended their lead to 34-21.

The third quarter maintained the same high tempo, with Hawks battling hard to disrupt Falcons’ attacking flow and capitalising on turnovers when possible. Their teamwork and communication across the court were evident, keeping the pressure on until the final whistle. The score stood at
52-36 to Falcons heading into the last quarter.

Hawks continued to fight in the final phase, demonstrating grit and composure but the Falcons triumphed by 16 goals. Alex Hassall was Henley’s player of the match.

In Division 1 of the Reading League, HENLEY HAWKS 1sts went down to a 53-32 defeat against TADLEY in a fast-paced physical encounter.

The opening quarter brought early misfortune for the Hawks when a player went down with an injury within the first few minutes, leaving the team to battle on with just six players.

Despite working tirelessly across the court, Tadley capitalised on the extra space to take an early lead, finishing the quarter 15–5 ahead. The Henley player returned to court in the second quarter so Henley regained their full complement and began to settle into the game. The team moved the ball with greater fluidity through the mid-court and applied strong defensive pressure to disrupt Tadley’s rhythm. By half-time, Tadley remained in front 24-14.

The third quarter continued at high intensity, with both sides showing impressive speed and determination. Hawks contested every ball and showed grit, led by a good defensive display from player-of-the-match Charlotte Hopper. The score going into the final quarter stood at
40-24 to Tadley.

In the last period, Henley continued to press hard and maintain their structure, but Tadley’s sharp attacking combinations and accuracy in the circle saw them pull further ahead.

In Division 3, HENLEY HAWKS 2nds slipped to a narrow 42-39 defeat against TNT.

TNT started strongly, capitalising on early turnovers to edge ahead 10-6 at the end of the first quarter. Henley found their rhythm in the second quarter with some sharp attacking play and tighter defensive pressure. The momentum began to shift as the Hawks closed the gap, going into half-time 23-19 down but very much in contention.

The third quarter saw end-to-end action, with Henley’s mid-court working tirelessly to transition the ball smoothly into attack. Accurate shooting from the circle kept the scoreline close, finishing the quarter 34-29 to TNT.

In the final period, the Hawks dug deep, the defensive duo, led by player of the match Jodie Hill, applied relentless pressure, forcing key turnovers that allowed Henley to narrow the margin to just three goals. Despite their late surge, TNT held on to take the win by three goals.