National 2 South
HENLEY Hawks went seven points clear at the top after a bad-tempered 26-13 home victory over Launceston.
Two tries from No 8 Robbie Stapley helped Henley to their sixth straight win.
Launceston, who are known as the Cornish All Blacks, caused some confusion for fans by wearing a gold change strip similar to Hawks’ colours, but referee Michael Cooper felt this was in order.
Scrum half Jack Shaylor skipped over for Henley’s opening try on nine minutes, but a score from his opposite number, Neilson Webber, converted by full back Kieron Lewitt, put the visitors 7-5 up.
Stapley drove over for his first, converted by fly half James Comben.
Launceston had wing Richard Bright and hooker Neil Bayliss sin-binned before Stapley bagged his second, Comben converting.
Lewitt slotted a penalty to make it 19-10 at the break.
An exchange of blows between Henley prop Dai Maddocks and Bayliss led to a yellow card for Maddocks and a red for Bayliss as this was his second offence.
Flanker Ryan Newman showed guile to score Henley’s fourth try on 51 minutes, Comben converting.
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