National 2 South

HENLEY Hawks secured a sixth-place finish after winning 48-27 in their final match at Taunton.

The seven-try victory completed a decent end to a season that had seen Hawks topping the table early on.

Taunton drew first blood by forcing hooker Ted Stagg over the line, but Henley soon hit back with fly half Tom Allen setting up centre Gavin Turner for the equaliser.

Full back James Comben converted before Taunton rocked the visitors again when wing Jason Luff linked with full back Gary Kingdom to score try No 2, fly half Jason Yapp converting.

Turner was pulled back for a forward pass, but Henley No 8 Tom Stradwick notched following a five-metre line-out to make it 12-12.

Luff mesmerised the defence for his second try, converted by Yapp, and No 8 Nick Burnett barged over for No 4 as Taunton led 24-12.

Henley managed a third try themselves before the break, with centre Danny Wells capitalising on a loose ball and Comben converting.

Comben and Yapp traded early penalties in the second half.

Wells controlled a poor pass with his foot, then ran in a superb solo try from 80 metres, converted by Comben.

Two further tries in five minutes settled the match, wing Christoph Bart running back a kick-off with interest for Wells to convert.

Replacment scrum half Steve Drake dummied his way over for the second in quick succession, Wells converting for 43-27.

There was still time for Allen to run in the final try – his 17th of the season.