Dings …………..27
Henley ……….36
THREE tries in five secondhalf minutes secured a hard-fought away victory for a jubilant Henley at Dings.
The home side gave as good as they got in an energetic and exciting opening 40 minutes, but the Hawks raised their game early in the second half to earn the bonus-point try by the 47th minute.
Henley scrum-half Ewan Fenley was at the top of his game, racing in to score four tries in a superb performance. The visitors opened the scoring in the secondminute with Fenley’s first unconverted try, but from then on in Crusaders were on top.
Prop Liam Appleton got Dings back in it with a try close to the uprights, converted by fly-half Steve Plummer.
Lock Gavin Curry hit a wonderful line to get the second try for Dings on 24 minutes, before Steve Plummer missed the extras from the tee but boosted Dings’ lead with a penalty to make it 15-5 at the interval.
The visitors made a whirlwind start to the second-half with Fenley crossing for tries in minutes 42, 44 and 47. with former Dings stand-off Ben Bolster added two conversions to take Hawks 24-15 clear.
Hooker Tom Anderson pulled an unconverted try back for Dings, but his opposite number Tom Emery went over shortly after and flanker Marcus Lowe made it 36-20 to Henley.
Replacement prop Josh Lloyd salvaged a bonuspoint for Dings with an 80th minute try converted by Ollie Millner.
But it was away-day joy for Henley, securing their tenth win of the season and leaving them just one point shy of Tonbridge Juddians in a thrilling promotion battle.
TEAMS
DINGS: Grattan, Hargan, Smith, Brooker, Clark, Plummer, Knight, Appleton, Anderson, Ferguson, Court, Curry, Welling, Bilton, Holcombe
Replacements: Lloyd, Harewood, Williams, Millner, Doggett
HENLEY: Wood, Norville, Andrew, Burrage, Robinson, Bolster, Fenley, Cook, Emery, Hughes, Albon, Hyde, Lunnon, Lowe, Bradley
Replacements: Deacon, Mason, Bordill, Kharbouch, Griffiths
REFEREE: Matthew Astle
ATTENDANCE: 316
Star man
Ewan Fenley – Henley
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