Patience required by eager Hawks

By NICK PITSON

Henley ………….31

Birm & Soli ….22

HAWKS had to work hard to get the better of tenacious Bir mingham.

They won the try count 5-3 but were guilty of lacking patience and trying to force things. Hawks got off to a good start and eventually took the lead when Dan Barnes crossed and Ben Bolster converted.

Bees came straight back with a Jack Jolly penalty and then took the lead with a good try from outside-half Harry O’Brien who broke some weak Hawks tackles to score. Jolly converted. Just before the break, Tom Hall finished off a driving maul to give the Hawks a 12-10 lead. Hawks came out for the second half firing and immediately stretched their lead with a try by skipper Sam Lunnon.

Just as it looked as though they would pull away and seal the game, Bees came back. Their scrum was dominant and they levelled when centre Nathan Tilsley forced his way over for a try.

Henley turned down a couple of kicks and a maul led to George Griffiths scoing. Bolster converted.

Bir mingham weren’t done yet and winger Oscar Heath went under the posts, with Jolly converting. However, the Hawks sealed the game with a try from Liam O’Neill after good work from Bolster.

TEAMS

HENLEY: O’Neill, Robinson, Andre, Bar nes, Griffiths, Bolster, Webb, Cook, Emery, Manning, Hyde, Lunnon, Lowe, Hall, Bradley. Replacements: Clarke, Deacon, Neal, White, MacDougall, Wood

BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL: Venus, Smith, Kelly, Tilsley, Dight, O’Brien, Jolly, Nel, Raimondi, Bingham, Spink, Weaver, Cooper, Scriven, Jadwat

Replacements: Foreman, Pearl, Brown, Heath, Wara

REFEREE: J Milliner-Woodcock

ATTENDANCE: 265

Star man

Jake Albon – Henley