Table-topping Tonbridge end Hawks’s winning run

HENLEY Hawks’ six game winning streak came to an abrupt end last Saturday as they were outgunned by National 2 East league leaders Tonbridge Juddians, 17-0.

It was a turgid contest which was very much dictated by the atrocious weather, but the home side were deserving of their victory, showing their experience and wherewithal to manage the conditions better than the Hawks.

It was Storm Darragh’s turn to have its say on sporting fixtures across the country and it certainly made its impact known in Tonbridge where the fixture was moved from their usual ground at the Slade, which was heavily waterlogged, to the 4G pitch at the Judd School.

The conditions understandably made the ball very greasy as both sides struggled to get a foothold early on with plenty of stoppages in play. Despite having most of the possession and territory in the first 10 minutes, the hosts were unable to make it count as a combination of solid defence and poor handling put pay to any threat. However, it was Henley who had the first real opportunity on 15 minutes when they were camped deep within the visitors’ 22. They couldn’t quite manufacture an opening from a promising position and were eventually penalised for holding on.

The howling wind and driving rain made it next to impossible for either side to string together any meaningful phases of possession, but it was the home side who eventually took the lead on the 20-minute mark when number eight Hugo Culverhouse powered off the back of a scrum and his deft offload to Shaydn Osgood saw the centre crash over by the sticks. Sam Evans added the extras and it was 7-0 to the home side.

To Henley’s credit, they worked hard to get back into the contest and despite plenty of pressure late in the half, they were unable to make it count as resolute defence from the home side snuffed out any potential scoring opportunities.

The second half was equally tough for both sides as the wind and rain continued to pound away. Even the purists would have struggled to find many redeeming qualities in a match that had become nothing more than an arm wrestle, and the home side were coping just a little better in adverse conditions.

Sam Evans’s probing kicks were giving them the territory they needed and the fly half’s penalty on 50 minutes pulled them two scores clear at 10-0, which in this weather was a decent one. Evans had another penalty opportunity on the hour mark, but was narrowly wide with his attempt. Despite showing plenty of effort, the Hawks just couldn’t muster an opening and the home side pulled further clear with 10 minutes remaining when Tommy Nicoll crossed the whitewash following sustained pressure in the Hawks 22. Evans converted and the score remained at 17-0.

All in all, it was a trip to forget for Henley, who fought valiantly against the table toppers but couldn’t quite take their opportunities when they came around.

Henley Hawks: 1 Kadeem Collins, 2 Spencer Hayhow, 3 Rory Mason, 4 Liam Goodison, 5 Sam Lunnon, 6 Marcus Lowe, 7 Roan Noone, 8 Will Benning, 9 Aidan Pugh, 10 Max Titchener, 11 Lailand Gordon, 12 Leo Webb, 13 George Wood, 14 Aaron Bello, 15 Toby Howe. Replacements: 16 Beau Delaney, 17 Louis Bailey, 18 Shek Sheriff, 19 Finn Basil, 20 Callum Jones.