Webb scores Hawks’ seventh try in best display of season
HENLEY Hawks returned from Canterbury last Saturday with a maximum five point haul following a sensational first 60 minutes when they pulled away to a 43-7 lead, after bagging seven tries in the process.
However, the hosts scored four late unanswered tries to add an air of respectability to the final score.
It was arguably Henley’s finest performance of the season, with real intensity and precision in their play which the home side just couldn’t contend with. The victory means Henley remain in fourth place, 11 points behind league leaders Esher with a game in hand in National 2 East.
The match started at a frenetic pace and it was the Hawks who found greater fluency right from the off. A penalty just inside the Canterbury half was kicked to touch by Max Titchener, and with the driving maul brought down illegally, it gave Henley another chance to set up the trust and catch and drive. This time the home side had no answer to the Hawks’ power and Istok Totic bagged the first of a brace of tries for the hooker, who was a menace all afternoon for Henley. Kicking into a strong headwind, Titchener was wide with the conversion from out wide. Canterbury fought back well and a driving maul of their own was finished by hooker, Nathan Morris. The league’s top point scorer, Frank Reynolds nailed the conversion and the hosts were in front 7-5 after 10 minutes of the contest gone.
This was about as good as it got for Canterbury as Henley suddenly found another gear. With the backline finding gaps in the home defence with some slick offloading, Henley launched wave after wave of attacks and when Zack Taylor cut an excellent line on 13 minutes, the big number eight powered over under the sticks to restore the Hawks lead. Titchener was on target with his conversion attempt.
The Hawks were soon back on the offensive and centre Adam Hakimian, currently in a rich vein of form, again picked open the home side’s defence. Bouncing off a couple of poor tackles, Hakimian crashed over under the posts for the Hawks third try after just 15 minutes. Titchener added the extras and Henley had built a 19-7 lead. The blue wave of pressure continued and Henley secured their try bonus point on the 25-minute mark. Sam Lunnon was this time the man to cross the whitewash out wide, Titchener couldn’t add the conversion from a difficult angle.
Silencing the Canterbury faithful, Henley weren’t finished yet. On 30 minutes, winger George Wood ghosted his way past a couple of errant tackles for his first of the game and with the extras added, Henley had built up a resounding 31-7 half time advantage after a breathless first 40.
Attacking down the hill in the second half, the Hawks knew the hosts would come out with all guns blazing in an effort to get a foothold in the game.
However, it was Henley who were the first on the scoresheet when Totic went over again for his second following another excellent driving maul.
The Henley set piece was functioning very well against a side who pride themselves on the power generated from their tight five. And when scrum half, Leo Webb crossed for the Hawks seventh after 52 minutes, the game was all but over at 43-7 against a side notoriously difficult to break down at home.
Playing for pride, Canterbury slowly began to stamp their authority on the game after Henley had made a raft of substitutions. The scrum was now working in favour of the home side, who were beginning to win penalties to put them in good positions. Openside flanker, Ed O’Donoghue crossed for the hosts second try after 60 minutes, and this sparked a flurry of tries for Canterbury.
Further scores from Tom Best, a second for O’Donoghue and one for Shay Kerry at the death gave the hosts a try bonus point for their efforts, and left the decent sized crowd with something to shout about.
However, it was Hawks director of rugby, Luke Allen who will have been delighted with the current form shown by his side who ended Canterbury’s run of four successive victories.
Henley Hawks: 1 Manning, 2 Totic, 3 Mason, 4 Lowe, 5 Lunnon, 6 Benning, 7 Vooght, 8 Taylor, 9 Webb, 10 Titchener, 11 Gordon, 12 Hakimian, 13 Crowley, 14 Wood, 15 Evans. Replacements: 16 Niazi, 17 Collins, 18 Hayton, 19 White, 20 Crow.
