Worthing edge Sussex try-fest
Worthing 55
Henley 41
TWO late tries gave Worthing victory over Henley in a thrilling encounter in West Sussex.
Visiting Henley raced into a 14-0 lead through Tom Hall and Connor Hayhow scores, both converted by George Jackson.
But Mathew McLean almost single-handedly dragged his side back with a 19-minute hat-trick of unconverted tries.
Henley No.8 Marcus Lowe restored the lead six minutes before half-time but it switched again when Hameed Ajayi crashed over.
But in a topsy-turvy encounter, there was still time for Henley to seize the initiative once more before the break when Jack Robinson crossed the whitewash.
Worthing struck a double blow after the break with two converted tries from scrum-half Matthew Walsh and fullback David McIlwane.
Hayhow got his second try on 56 minutes, with Scott White also dotting down as the visitors closed the gap to 36-34.
Replacement George Harris stretched the hosts' lead to seven points with a try before David Hyde's converted score levelled the match with seven minutes to play.
But Worthing had the last laugh, as centres Kiba Richards and Harrison Sims bagged a converted try apiece to seal a dramatic triumph.
TEAMS
WORTHING: McIlwaine, Maslen, Richards, Sims, McLean, Forrest, Walsh, Cook, Luke, Ajayi, Spurgeon, Lake, Redmayne, Price, Perkins
Replacements: Gearing-Grief, Gatford, Lee, Harris, Sanderson
HENLEY: Robinson, Andre, Janes, O'Neill, Hayhow, Butler, Jackson, Cook, Emery, Manning, Clements, Hyde, Hall, White, Lowe
Replacements: Gardner, Primett, Berry, Haynes, Wunder
REFEREE: James Philip Clarke
ATTENDANCE: 483
Star man
Mathew McLean – Worthing
