National 2 South

Henley Hawks climbed off the bottom with a morale-boosting 30-19 bonus-point victory at Canterbury.

Hawks took an early lead with a penalty from fly half Will Fulton after Canterbury hooker Tom Rogers was yellow-carded.

Their first try came on 24 minutes when flanker Jack Hennings drove over.

However, Henley could not secure the restart and Canterbury ended up scoring a try through centre Ben Thomas, converetd by fly half Philip Gibson.

It was only 8-7 at the break, but Hawks turned the game decisively with two quick scores around the hour mark.

Full back Ralph Smith and prop Rowan Fuller, who was set up by Henley’s outstanding captain Matt Payne, bagged the tries, Fulton converting the latter try.

Canterbury hit back with a try from scrum half Nick Woodbridge, converted by Gibson.

The result was sealed by two more tries. Payne broke blind and fed replacement Tommy Haynes to score then lock Steve powered through.

Canterbury flanker Matt Sheen was adjudged to have beaten Hawks wing Pete Davies to touch the ball down for the hosts’ final try.