National 2 South

HENLEY Hawks marched on at the top with a 61-11 victory at Taunton Titans.

Flanker Ryan Newman scored twice in the nine-try demolition, which kept Hawks five points clear of second-placed Shelford.

Newman finished off a first-minute forward drive for their opening try, fly half James Comben converting.

Taunton fly half Fred Gabbitass replied with a penalty, but Henley prop Dai Maddocks soon touched down.

Comben converted this and a try from full back Tom Allen, who burst down the left wing.

Gabbitass slotted a second penalty, but powerful running from Henley No 8 Robbie Stapley set the tone for tries from Matt Payne and fellow flanker Newman, Comben converting one.

Supporting wing Martin Nutt grabbed try No 6, converted by Comben.

Taunton full back Mike Pope made it 40-11 with his fifth try in five matches.

But lock Liam Dwyer, wing Richard Briggs and replacement Xavier Andre completed Henley’s tally, Comben converting one and Nutt two.

Chinnor felt hard done by after being pipped 21-20 at Canterbury.

The visitors battled back from 21-0 down to score four tries, but their usually accurate fly half James Cathcart could not find his kicking boots.

Chinnor also claimed they should have had a penalty try after the Canterbury scrum was penalised four times in a row near their own line.

Lock Andy Smith did eventually go over for his second try from the same play, but crucially Cathcart did not get a conversion under the posts.

Canterbury took the lead with an 11th-minute try from centre Thomas Best, with fly half Scott Browne adding a conversion and two penalties.

Chinnor centre Matt Goode was yellow-carded just seconds after returning from having a head wound stitched.

Browne slotted the resulting penalty then three minutes into the second half, centre David Devlin-Jones scored the hosts’ second try.

Full back Henry Colver scooted over for Chinnor’s first try on 52 minutes, then Smith powered across for his first.

Cantertbury lock Tom Sherson was sin-binned, then Chinnor No 8 Joe Kava set up Smith for his second after the penalty try controversy.

Chinnor wing Tom Gray made a try-saving tackle, while Canterbury wing Kwaku Asiedu was yellow-carded late on.

The visitors twice came close before replacement Ricky Hopwood went over at the death and Cathcart’s missed conversion was the final action.