Late heartbreak denies Hawks first away victory

THERE was a sense of déjà-vu on Saturday as despite a valiant effort, Henley Hawks were denied victory by a late London Welsh score, which saw the Hawks come away with two points for their efforts when it could so easily have been five.

It has been an all too familiar story this season, with Henley now having registered an incredible six losing bonus points, the most in the league.

It highlights just how tight the margins are in National Division 2 East, as converting even three of those losses to wins would see the Hawks sit in mid-table. As it is, they find themselves languishing second from bottom with a mountain to climb heading into the second half of the season.

After their dismal showing against Bury St Edmunds a fortnight ago, Henley should be proud of their efforts against London Welsh, and on another day, would be celebrating an important victory. But yet again, another cruel twist of fate saw Henley register their 10th defeat of the season.

In what was a real ebb and flow first half, neither side were able to stamp their authority on the game in what proved to be a cagey opening quarter. It was the hosts who slowly gained the upper hand and took the lead on
16 minutes when number eight Frankie Souto did well to power way his over the line following a 5m scrum. Matt Hodgson added the extras and the home side had their noses in front at 7-0.

That lead was extended
10 minutes later when Hodgson added a penalty to move the scoreboard to 10-0.

With Rams loanees Morgan MacRae and Andrew Lamb both impressing for the Hawks, Henley had an edge to their attacking game which has been missing recently, and slowly worked their way into the contest. It was Lamb who scored his first of a brace just after the half-hour mark, following a quick tap penalty deep inside the Welsh 22 which saw the fullback cut a great line to crash over from close range. Max Titchener added the two points to make it 10-7.

The Hawks were soon back on the attack following good link-up play between MacRae and Callum Jones, which saw the ball ending up with Leo Webb, and the scrum half put on the afterburners to dive over the line for a good team score. Titchener again added the conversion and Henley were in front, 14-10.

Back came the home side, and with the Hawks again struggling to keep their discipline at crucial moments, they allowed Welsh to grab an important score just before the half-time whistle when wing Matt Bodilly finished well out wide. With Hodgson off target with the conversion, it was 15-14 to Welsh at the break.

Henley were much-improved after the interval, taking the game to the hosts and were rewarded with two Titchener penalties which moved the Hawks into a 20-15 lead. This lead was extended further with Lamb putting the finishing touches on a good break from Seb Scott to dot down under the sticks. Titchener converted and there was daylight on the scoreboard at 27-15 to Henley.

Welsh refused to lie down, and with Scott White yellow carded, grabbed a quick score with the numerical advantage when Harry Breeze crossed the whitewash. Hodgson’s conversion pulled it back to a one-score game at 27-22 to the Hawks.

Despite being down to 14 men, Henley kept battling and grabbed their bonus point try with 10 minutes left when a breakthrough the middle of ruck from Will Benning took the ball into the Welsh 22. From there, the ball was worked out wide to MacRae who finished well in the corner. Titchener was just off target with the conversion, but crucially, Henley had a
10-point lead heading into the final minutes.

As has far too often been the case this season, Henley allowed their opponents to hit back almost straight away. Giving away a penalty on their own 22, Henley were forced on to the back foot and the hosts patiently worked through the phases to work an opening out wide with Osian McAvoy crossing out wide for their try bonus point. Hodgson’s conversion pulled it back to 32-29 with only a few minutes remaining.

Despite finding themselves back in the Welsh 22, Henley gave the ball away too easily allowing them to clear their lines and get hold of the ball again within the Hawks half. From there, scrum half Hywel Williams gleefully spotted a gap to cross the whitewash to give the visitors the lead back at 36-32 with Hodgson’s conversion a formality.

Henley had one last chance to take the spoils but were penalised for holding on when deep in the Welsh 22.