Westcombe Park vs Henley Hawks – Saturday, March 14th, kick-off 2.30pm
By Alistair Beynon
Henley Hawks are back in league action tomorrow when they travel to South East London to take on Westcombe Park. Kick-off at Goddington Dene is 2.30pm. Following the bonus point triumph over Sevenoaks a fortnight ago, Luke Allen’s side will be aiming to back that victory up with another statement win, but they will be more than aware of the threat posed by the Kent side.
The two teams met at Dry Leas back in November, and it was Westcombe Park that came out victorious that day with a 21-14 triumph. Henley’s away form has been poor this season, with only a draw at Barnes being the only match that hasn’t ended in defeat. And with five games left of the current campaign, now is the time for the Hawks to find some semblance of form on the road. Visits to high-flying Bury St. Edmunds and a trip to Guernsey on the last day of the season await.
Westcombe Park currently sit in seventh place in the National 2 East league table, with Henley moving up to twelfth following their win over Sevenoaks. The Hawks will be more than aware of the teams around them with Esher now only three points ahead, and currently occupying the vital safe spot in eleventh. If the league was to finish today, Henley would take on the winner of London Scottish Lions and Letchworth Garden City in a play-off at Dry Leas on Saturday, May 9th. We’re all hoping it doesn’t come to that!
In terms of team news, Allen is forced into a couple of changes to the starting side that faced Sevenoaks. In the front row, there is a return to the Hawks for prop Kaleem Niazi. The powerful tighthead has been plying his trade for Naas in the Irish AIB Division 1B this season. In the backs, Toby Howe also comes back into the starting side at fly half in place of the unavailable Ollie Snook. Max Titchener is still out with a rib injury.
The provisional Henley Hawks side to face Westcombe Park is as follows:
- Moses Fakatou, 2. Spencer Hayhow ?, 3. Kaleem Niazi, 4. Ben Elsey, 5. Sam Lunnon, 6. Fin Basil, 7. Max Brown, 8. Will Benning, 9. Leo Webb, 10. Toby Howe, 11. Lailand Gordon, 12. Jimmy Leach, 13. Callum Jones, 14. Oscar Busby, 15. George Wood
Replacements: 16. Nelly Kinniburgh, 17. Luke Shpylka, 18. Scott White, 19. Zack Taylor, 20. Oskar White
Elsewhere this weekend, both the 2nd XV and Women’s team have well-earned rest weekend’s with it being the last day of the Six Nations. A reminder that all games are being shown live on the big screens in the clubhouse.
