RUGBY UNION: Hawks soar to nine-try romp (From Bicester Advertiser)

RUGBY UNION: Hawks soar to nine-try romp

10:00am Tuesday 18th September 2012 in Rugby

National 2 South

HENLEY Hawks ran in nine tries to hammer hosts Southend 64-7 and open up a four-point lead at the top.

Full back Martin Nutt bagged a double on his first start for Hawks, while fly half James Comben also landed a brace and kicked 11 points.

Southend wing Dan Cleare burst through for an early try converted by Liam MacGeachy after Comben had slotted a penalty, but it was all Henley after that.

Hawks scrum half Jack Shaylor snapped up a loose ball for their first try, converted by Comben, then flanker Matt Payne set up Nutt.

Comben sidestepped thro-ugh to score before captain Tom Allen put in wing Liam O’Neill, Comben converting both for a 29-7 half-time lead.

Southend could only watch as Comben ran in the try of the match with a 45-metre solo run. His conversion proved his final action before he was substituted.

The hosts enjoyed a decent period of pressure, but a swift Henley counter allowed Nutt to outpace the defence for his second try.

O’Neill converted this and the final three tries from their impressive No 8 Robbie Stapley, replacement flanker Will Woodward and wing Richard Briggs.

Chinnor earned a bonus point in a 41-29 defeat at Bournemouth that exposed some defensive frailties.

Bournemouth immediately put Chinnor under pressure, with Frazer Wilford scoring their opening try on five minutes and fly half Ben Stevenson converting.

Chinnor wing Tristan Corpe hit back with a try on 11 minutes, but Bournemouth had a 24-5 lead by half-time.

Stevenson slotted a penalty and then converted a powerful finish from Scott Chislett.

Chinnor failed to control a scrum in front of their own posts, and having earned the put-in, Bournemouth played in Dan Pollard for try No 3, Stevenson converting.

The visiting pack showed their attacking power with a pushover try for No 8 Joe Kava on 52 minutes, but Anthony Dunkerley scored for Bournemouth after chasing down a grubber kick, Stevenson converting.

Chinnor rallied with two quick tries from centre Matt Goode, converted by full back Henry Colver, and Corpe’s second following a long kick from replacement Leo Fielding.

It all went wrong for Chinnor, with home prop Ben Featherstone running in unopposed and scrum half Sam Hardcastle collecting a loose ball for a length-of-the-field try.

Chinnor at least had the final say when quick ball to the centre allowed Colver to burst through and convert his own try.