Visitors weather storm to power past Hungerford

HENLEY Colts ran out winners in their latest league clash at Hungerford in a physical encounter played out on a small pitch.

Hungerford started strongly, using their big pack to make dents into the Henley defence line. Their big forwards were used as a successful decoy to allow their backs in to score.

Henley bounced straight back with a pin-point crossfield kick from Harry Beesley to see Elliot Deacon dot down.

A strong break from Marlowe Rundle led to the next score. There was a break in play a few metre s short of the line before Harry Waldrom dotted down.

Hungerford bounced back, despite a last ditch tackle, led by the energetic Toby Robinson, Adam Bennett and Luca Coleman.

Henley had a penalty
35 metres out which Tom Knapman slotted home to move the visitors five points in front.

Back once more came Hungerford as they took the lead back. Henley hit straight back with good work from Jake Geggus taking play to within a few metres of the line, the forwards bashing away before Jack Bradbury spotted a hole and dotted down.

From the kick-off, Rundle found a hole to burst through and was caught just short and a couple more drives saw Bradbury again score to make it 29-19 at half-time.

Playing up the hill in the second half was going to be tough, but Henley’s resilience showed. Although they conceded early, that was as close as Hungerford got.

Robertson and David Stobie looked dangerous when they moved the ball, but the final pass let them down. As the game progressed, it was a penalty from Etienne Brooks, whose first game back from injury, allowed Henley some breathing space. Brooks slotted the ball through the middle to give them a six-point cushion.