Henley Hawks vs Old Albanian - Saturday, April 26th, kick-off 3pm

By Alistair Beynon

Henley Hawks bring down the curtain on their 2024/25 season today with the visit of Old Albanian to Dry Leas, kick-off 3pm. Luke Allen’s side will be desperate to finish the season in a positive manner, but standing in their way are an Old Albanian side who have won eight of their last nine fixtures, including victories over league champions Tonbridge Juddians, as well as high-flyers Barnes, Canterbury and Westcombe Park.

The Hertfordshire outfit are currently in fifth place in National 2 East with 80 points, 8 points clear of the Hawks in eighth. However, games against OAs are always tough contests and it was Henley who prevailed with a 22-21 victory at the Woollams in the first game of the season back in September, a result that the Hawks will certainly draw a certain amount of confidence from, particularly how they managed the game in the second half.

In terms of team selection, club stalwart Sam Lunnon is in line for his 150th appearance in a Hawks shirt, and it’s a very appropriate time for the second row to hit that milestone given that it’s the final game of the season and his previous club before joining Henley was OAs. Lunnon has been in excellent form recently and will undoubtedly be relishing the contest against his former side. Elsewhere in the pack, there is a settled look to the forwards with no changes from the team that beat Barnes a fortnight ago.

In the backs, both George Wood and Lailand Gordon picked up head knocks against TJ's three weeks ago and are still ruled out of action, so Guy Rawsthorn and Callum Jones both start. On the bench, there is a return for Morgan Poiner in place of Jake Rawcliffe, and livewire scrum half Lucas Braithwaite is also back in the squad. 

Henley Hawks provisional side to face OA's is as follows: 

15. Titchener, 14. Rawsthorn, 13. Jones, 12. Webb, 11. Richardson, 10. Howe, 9. Pugh, 1. Collins, 2. Langley, 3. Mason (c), 4. Goodison, 5. Lunnon, 6. Lowe, 7. Noone, 8. Benning

Replacements: 16. Kinniburgh, 17. Bailey, 18. Poiner, 19. Braithwaite, 20. Allen

It’s a Double Header Saturday, with the Henley 2nd XV also facing off against Old Albanian 2’s in a friendly, kick-off on the riverside pitches is 2pm. Both the 3’s and Henley Hawks Women have now completed their respective 2024/25 seasons.

Match tickets can be purchased here and the full match preview and team news to come soon.