HENLEY Hawks failed to build on a good start as they lost 41-23 at Halifax.

Hawks led 13-0 and 18-7, but could not halt six-try Halifax's comeback.

Henley dominated early on and scored when prop James Hadfield ran in from ten metres after good work from Chris Hall and Carl Cimpoias.

Mitch Burton added the conversion and two penalties, while Halifax had prop Adam Blades sin-binned for foul play.

Flanker Dan Solomi squeezed over from a ruck with Halifax's first real attack and Tom Eaton converted.

Hawks struck back when fly half Rory Teague floated a huge pass to an unmarked Adam Slade, who strode over to make it 18-7.

Henley surrendered the initiative, as Eaton converted a try from full back Aaron Canning and added a penalty before the break.

The visitors still had flanker Mark Douglas in the sin-bin when Halifax hooker and captain Carl Mortimore scored early in the second half.

Handling errors, hesitation and poor kicking prevented Henley from scoring, while former Oxford Harlequins man Will Greenwood crossed over at the other end and Eaton converted.

Solomi was awarded his second try despite claims the ball had not been properly grounded.

Slade beat three tacklers and unloaded to Dave Tibbott, who raced in from 40 metres for the best try of the game.

Hawks looked set for a fourth try from a forward drive, but saw lock Matt Payne yellow-carded for careless use of the head.

Halifax flanker Dave Jessiman completed Henley's misery, bursting through the defence for a try that Eaton converted.