Henley 2s 57-17 Oxford

By Tom Haynes

Looking to put the heartache of last weekends last play defeat behind them, Henley took on 4th place Oxford at Dry Leas. With heavy rain on Friday and Saturday morning, looked like it would mean playing the expansive game would be difficult. However as kick off came about the sun made an appearance.

Henley started strongly and immediately applied the pressure. The forwards worked hard and they were soon rewarded when Zack Taylor powered his way over. It wasn’t long before they found another score, Max Titchener spotted a hole behind the defence, a clever kick through was regained by Henley. Then a couple of phases later Titchener found Will Baildon to go over untouched. The forwards were getting good go forward and making the hard yards. They were also able to their driving maul going, a good drive and then Charlie Sichel broke off the back and then spun his way over the line. Henley soon got the next one after break down the middle, Ross Lewis found Barney Stentiford in the blindside and he timed his pass to allow Seb Scott to sprint through and finish with a great dive. The next score came from the forwards, they were using the driving line out to there benefit. This time it was the strength and agility of a twisting Stentiford that was able to dot down. Henley still had time for one more score before half time. It was started by a 50 meter break from Roan Noone, the ball was recycled before a pin point cross field kick from Titchener found Aaron Bello who coasted over in to make the half time score 38-0 to Henley.

Oxford came out firing after half time and scored for a kick through and a nice bounce which allow them to run in from 60 minutes out. Henley were then straight back on it. Lovely slick hands from the backs saw Callum Jones go through a hole and sprint in from 30 meters out. Henley’s next score came from great vision from Titchener, another pin point cross field kick, this time to Will Leach who took it in stride to sprint in. The forwards had worked hard, they had been making all the hard yards to allow the backs to have front foot. Henley’s last score came from the impressive Stentiford, he had been everywhere and deserved his second score when he powered his way over. Oxford finish strongly with 2 late tries to take the final score to 57-17.