Henley Hawks vs Westcombe Park – Saturday, November 15th, kick-off 3pm
By Alistair Beynon
Henley Hawks are back in home action tomorrow (Saturday) when they take on one of the leagues in-form sides in Westcombe Park. The Orpington-based team have been something of a bogey side for Henley in recent times, and have started the season in convincing fashion with five wins and four losses to their name.
Luke Allen’s team will need to find a similar level of performance to the victory over Esher if they are going to come away with the points as Park have a big, physical pack, and are very direct in their attack. They currently sit in fifth place in National 2 East with the Hawks in eleventh, with just two victories to their name. Last Saturday, they raced into a 33-0 at home against Barnes, before the Londoners staged a spirited fightback, only to fall short in a 36-26 defeat.
Last season, Park did the double over Henley with a 32-29 victory at Goddington Dene in September last year before a similarly narrow 12-8 victory at Dry Leas in January.
In terms of team news, Allen makes two changes from the side edged out at Sevenoaks. In the pack, Sam Lunnon comes back into the starting XV in the second row alongside Ben Elsey, with Liam Goodison reverting to blindside flanker. In the backs, George Wood comes in for Toby Howe on the right wing whilst Lailand Gordon has also recovered from injury and takes his place amongst the replacements.
The provisional Hawks side to face Westcombe Park on Saturday is:
- Kadeem Collins, 2. Spencer Hayhow ©, 3. Moses Fakatou, 4. Ben Elsey. 5. Sam Lunnon, 6. Liam Goodison, 7. Scott White, 8. Will Benning, 9. Leo Webb, 10. Ollie Snook, 11. Oscar Busby, 12. Connor Hayhow, 13. Jimmy Leach, 14. George Wood, 15. Will Baildon
Replacements: 16. Louis Bailey, 17. Charlie Sitchel, 18. Zack Taylor, 19. Morgan Poiner, 20. Lailand Gordon
There are no other games for the senior sides of the club, with all three having a rest weekend.
Match tickets can be purchased here.
