Barnes 19-21 Henley Hawks 

By Alistair Beynon

Henley Hawks came away from South West London with a deserved 21-19 victory over third placed Barnes on Saturday. 

It was a scrappy game where both sides were guilty of enforced errors, but the Hawks edged it thanks to three first half tries and a resolute defensive performance that shut the door on the home side in a nervy last ten minutes. 

The win was cemented by a 100% kicking performance from Max Titchener, his second in a row after last week's display against TJ's, along with an interception try from his own 22 which capped a fine 11-point showing from the fullback. 

However, it was the hosts who came out of the blocks quickest, and they took the lead after just four minutes when elusive wing Jacques Birch crossed the whitewash out wide following a superb floated pass from fly half Mark McDermott. Elliott Haydon was off target with the extras, but the home side had an early advantage. 

Back came Henley and a quick tap penalty from Aidan Pugh put the Hawks on the front foot, and his excellent pass to Jamar Richardson 5-metres out saw the wing power his way over to level the scores on the ten minute mark. Titchener converted excellently from out wide and Henley had their noses in front at 7-5. 

It was an end-to-end first quarter and the home side applied concerted pressure in the Hawks 22, which was defended stoically by the Hawks. Trying to force an opening out wide, an errant pass was picked off by Titchener and he ghosted his way in under the sticks for a great solo effort. Just about managing to get his breath back, he converted his own try and Henley had built an imposing 14-5 lead. 

The game became a scrappy arm wrestle where both sides fell foul of the referee's whistle which stifled any momentum. However, the Hawks had an excellent opportunity to extend their lead further but a forward pass saw Guy Rawsthorn's effort ruled out. 

The hosts were struggling with their lineout, but came back into the contest on the half hour mark when Birch scored his second of the afternoon following a well-worked backs move. This time Haydon converted and it was game on at 14-12.

Just when you felt like this would be the catalyst for the home side to take control of the game, the Hawks had other ideas and scored their third of the contest on the stroke of halftime when the excellent Kadeem Collins powered his way over under the posts after another great break from Pugh. Titchener's conversion created a little daylight on the scoreboard at 21-12 heading into the interval. 

The second half was a nervy affair, and both sides were continuing to struggle with the referees interpretation of the breakdown, but it was the hosts who wrestled back the initiative after 45 minutes when hooker Matt Humphreys crashed over following a powerful driving maul. Haydon converted and it was a two-point game again at 21-19. 

Henley continued to fight hard to secure a try bonus point, but the Barnes defense held firm. Richardson looked to have secured his second close to the hour mark, but Sam Lunnon's pass was adjudged to have gone forward.  

Just five minutes later, Henley had a lineout 5-metres out, but again the home sides defense was equal to the task, and kept the Hawks at bay with the try line beckoning. 

Heading into the final ten minutes, the home side regained the initiative and Henley supporters were left ruing the missed opportunities. A botched drop goal attempt had the nerves on edge, and despite several lineouts on the Henley 22, the Hawks repelled the threat time and again to seal an excellent and deserved victory in their last away game of the season. 

With a well-earned break this Saturday, the Hawks are back in action for their final game of the season at home to Old Albanian on Saturday, April 26th, kick-off 3pm. 

Henley Hawks side: 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. Rawcliffe, 19. Wallis-Downham, 20. Bello

Match photo courtesy of Barnes RFC.