Hawks Hope to Bounce Back at Home
Henley Hawks are back at home this weekend when they play host to Rochford Hundred RFC in their latest National 2 (East) fixture. Kick off at Dry Leas is at the slightly earlier time of 2.30pm.
This match forms part of a double header for rugby fans as the Henley Hawks Women play Richmond Ladies on the main pitch following the Hawks Rochford game. Kick off for the Ladies match is 5pm.
The Hawks will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing result at Sevenoaks last week and it was the second game in succession that the Hawks should have won, having been leading not long before the end. As with the Dorking game the week before, the Hawks couldn’t quite see the game out. With three defeats in the last four games, they are still eighth in the table but are now fourteen points behind the leaders Blackheath. They will want to give their supporters something to cheer this week as we lead into the festive period.
This is the third season that Essex side Rochford Hundred have been in National 2 and they are gradually beginning to find their feet. Although below the Hawks in the table (11th), they started the season with an impressive win at Tonbridge Juddian and have also beaten Westcliff and Sevenoaks. However, they have lost their last five matches including last week at home to Guernsey. Last season, Rochford won the game at Dry Leas 27-24 but the Hawks gained revenge in Essex later in the season.
Head coach Luke Allen has made six changes, one of those positional, from the starting line up that started at Sevenoaks, looking to halt the slump in form.
In the forwards, Morgan Macrae starts at hooker, while Scott White returns to the back row. Tom Vooght moves from wing forward to No8.
Ewan Fenley makes a return at scrum half following his injury lay-off with Adam Hakimian also returning to the centre. Seb Scott also comes back into the side to the wing. Four of last weeks side are covering bench duties this week.
Henley Hawks
15 Guy Rawsthorn, 14 Seb Scott, 13 Adam Hakimian, 12 Louis Flynn 11 Reuben Norville,
10 Max Titchener, 9 Ewan Fenley
1 Dave Manning (c), 2 Morgan Macrae, 3 Rory Mason, 4 Omar Ellaboudey, 5 Ben Harrison,
6 Tom Hall, 7 Scott White, 8 Tom Vooght,
Reps: 16 Luke Shpylka , 17 Tom Emery, 18 Sam Lunnon, 19 Will Crow, 20 Ryan Crowley
The second game of the double header see the Henley Hawks Women play their latest league fixture against Richmond Ladies. The Hawks Women are sixth in the Women’s Championship South 1, one place below Richmond so it should be an even contest.
