CLASS told as National 2 leaders Esher extended their 100 per cent record with an impressive victory at Dry Leas.

It was a credit to Henley's defence that Esher scored just the one try through ex-England wing Matt Moore.

But aside from a ten-minute spell in the first half Hawks offered very little as an attacking force.

Henley were missing leading try scorer Chris Simmons and lost right wing Adam Slade to injury in the first half.

But they didn't help themselves with some poor kicking from the hand with both full back Jim Farndon and fly half Mitch Burton too often missing touch.

Esher were content to play a compact game and five penalties from full back Neil Hallett proved the difference.

They led through a fourth-minute penalty from Hallett after capitalising on a poor clearance from Farndon.

This seemed to spur Hawks on and they had their best period of the first half with centre Paul Dunckley and Slade both almost breaking through.

Henley went ahead after nine minutes when No 8 Dave Archer finished off a catch and drive move.

The try had been coming with lock Rob Hurrell dominating the lineout and Esher second row Emmanuel Amapakabo was sin-binned for collapsing the maul just before Archer struck.

Esher fly half Matthew Leek was proving a tricky customer and almost created a try for Bevon Armitage with a sharp break on 13 minutes.

Henley lock James Winterbottom was yellow-carded as the home defence became stretched before Hallett's second penalty made it 6-5.

Hawks' tenacious defence was showing why it has been the meanest in the division, but another infringement allowed Hallett to make it 9-5 after 33 minutes.

Esher piled on the pressure as half time approached, but only cut through in stoppage time when Moore capitalised on a fumble from Chaska Loubers.

Moore sidestepped Farndon with ease to finish in the corner.

Esher picked up where they left off and more pressure allowed Hallett a fourth successful penalty on 42 minutes.

Henley struggled to gain any sort of platform and were turned over when they did by an impressive Esher back row.

Hallett landed his fifth penalty on the hour mark and that was game over.

Centre Bevon Armitage and scrum half Graham Barr were both denied tries by some excellent defence as Esher finished strongly.

Henley: Farndon, Slade (Reeves 33), Loubser, Dunckley, Gill, Burton, Gaunt, Le Chevalier, Wordley (capt) (Muggridge 73), Hadfield, Winterbottom, Hurrell, Tenconi (M Payne 58), Williams, Archer.