A double Best and delight for Shepherd
Henley………………29pts Canterbury……….32pts
TOM Best and Sam Shepherd both scored two tries each as Canterbury leapfrogged Henley into second place with a thrilling win.
Both teams scored five tries but the men from Kent were the better side and moved the ball fluently and at pace in the win – while Tom Emery's hat-trick was in vain for the Hawks.
“It was a hell of a game and we are delighted to get the win”, said Canterbury head coach Andy Pratt.
“It was a high-quality game which is nice for the league. We had a little more creativity which gave us the edge but it was essentially two teams cancelling each other out.”
In a frantic start, the visitors controlled possession and took the lead with a try from the impressive Tom Best. Ollie Best converted.
It was a full ten minutes before the Hawks got any worthwhile possession but they used it well. The back row drove powerfully and a good move involving Emery and Dave Manning conjured a try for skipper Sam Lunnon.
Canterbury replied immediately, moving the ball well between forwards and backs before centre Sterling ran a great angle to run in for a try giving the visitors a 12-5 lead. Back came the Hawks.
Following a good line out steal, Finn Pietersen broke and after support from Sam Lunnon gained a penalty which they kicked to the corner. The resulting driving maul was finished by hooker Emery.
With the game being played at a tremendous pace, Ollie Best kicked a penalty for the visitors before Canterbury crossed for their third try after good use of the narrow side by Dan Smart set up Sterling for his second try.
Canterbury started the second half with purpose and moved further ahead with another try from Tom Best, which was converted by Ollie Best.
Henley hit back. Their favourite weapon, the driving lineout, worked again when Alex Bradley crossed and it nearly worked a third time shortly afterwards but the Canterbury defence held firm.
From the scrum and a series of drives, Emery crossed for his second try, which Pietersen converted to bring the Hawks within five points of the visitors.
As Henley fought their hardest to gain parity, any thoughts of a complete fightback were wasted when a Henley handling error gifted possession to the visitors and some slick passing and running was finished by scrum-half Smart to give Canterbury a ten-point cushion.
In a frantic finish, the Hawks pummelled the visitors' line and their efforts were finally rewarded with Emery crashed over for his third and his side's fifth try. O'Neill converted but Canterbury saw it out.
“If you look at the score it was a cracking game but to score five tries and lose is a bit hard to take”, said Henley's director of rugby Nigel Dudding.
“Unfortunately we never got in front and paid for it.”
