Clifton push Henley close

We deserved all the plaudits as we came close to recording a major upset over the league leaders Henley Hawks. Until the final ten minutes we were only three points in arrears but during the closing stages Henley scored the points which secured them what appears to be comfortable win.

Until the closing stages we had matched all the way playing with a determination and spirit which has hallmark of recent performances with accuracy and solidity in defence..

We had first use of the cold nagging wind but it was Henley who opened the scoring.

Winger Xavier Andre sharp run took play close to our line and Henley were awarded a scrum ten metres out. Scrum half Connor Murphy was held up as tried to reach the try line but from the resultant driving maul hooker Stuart Philpott touched with fly half James Comben converting.

Almost immediately we responded when we split their mid field defence and winger Luke Blizzard had a simple run in to touch down under the posts. Full back Charlie converted then kicked a penalty to put us in front.

It was the turn of the Hawks to put us under pressure and on a couple of occasions they created scoring chances but the final pass did not go to hand...

After half an hour the controlled of the home pack was rewarded as they launched a series of driving mauls which ended when prop Dave Manning forced his way over to put his side two points in front.

It was then our turn with half time approaching following a good break by centre Sam Harrison to put pressure on the home line and eventually following a succession of mauls No 8 Ali Bone picked and dived over for a converted try.

Henley came out revitalised after the break and a sweeping back move saw Andre cross after a twenty metre run. Both sides enjoyed periods of pressure but it was the home side who scored next when Murphy kicked a wind assisted penalty from the half way.

We then enjoyed a period of dominance Bone and scrum half Andy Uren creating chances which came to nothing and Jordan Kelly also went close.

With the game approaching the final stages Henley’s pack took control and a kick to the corner followed with a drive from the line out ended with flanker Tom Hall scoring with Comben adding the extras

Disappointingly the Hawks were to score again in an identical fashion with flanker Matt Payne claiming the unconverted try.

Next for second place Dorking