Henley Hawks' 59-12 defeat at Southend was their heaviest loss since being relegated to National 2.

And it now all but consigns them to National 3 rugby next season - just a year after missing out on promotion by one point.

The last time Henley conceded 59 points in a league game was at Bristol in National 1 in February 2005.

Now Henley must contemplate trips to sides such as Bristol's less saubrious neighbours Dings Crusaders.

Southend opened the scoring through right wing Tyson Lewis's fifth-minute try.

Hawks then hammered away at the home line for more than ten minutes.

Southend avoided conceding a penalty try despite several infringements before racing clear and driving hooker Nick Pay over for try No 2.

Lewis was next to score after Henley lost centres Jaymes Chapman (shoulder) and Angelo Flammia (sin-bin) had been sin-binned, while Southend's fourth came from a penalty try.

Henley suffered another injury blow with Liam Wordley replacing hooker Dinos Alexipoulos at half-time.

Three conversions by Andrew Frost made it 26-0 at the break.

Samoan international centre Faapulou Soolefaio ran in a hat-trick of tries and kicked the final conversion on his farewell appearance.

Frost, who added three more conversions, and replacement Mark Billings also crossed over.

Henley eventually scored when skipper Matt Payne fed James Gaunt to scamper over.

Wordley then stretched over for a score, which Jim Farndon converted, but it was too little, too late.

  • Oxford Harlequins 3rd won 24-10 in a friendly against a Gosford All Blacks XV.

Shane Turner's try opened the scoring for Gosford, but Harry Plaisted levelled.

Quins skipper Mark Jones converted his own try after the break before Dan Hughes bagged Gosford's second.

Jones and James Wentworth added further Quins scores, with Jones converting the latter.

Visitors Witney defeated a Chinnor XV 11-7 with prop Rikki Dore scoring the decisive try.