A superb place-kicking display by Matt Jones, which brought him a haul of 22 points, could not stop Henley Hawks going down 39-37 away to Manchester.
Four first half-penalties by Jones, plus a try by Mark Venner put Henley 17-10 up at half-time, but they should have led by more as poor decision-making failed to make the most of a constant stream of possession.
Manchester took advantage of their opponents' desultory approach, after skipper Steve Barnes was forced to leave the field injured, to storm ahead 36-23.
Late tries by winger Tom Holloway and scrum half Dan Smaje, both of which Jones converted, kept Henley in touch. But Manchester kept their noses in front to claim the points.
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