Henley put in shift to avoid trap door

HENLEY put in a hugely committed performance to ease any fears of being sucked into a relegation fight.

Prop Dave Manning opened the scoring for them, finishing off a series of attacks.

But the Hawks gave the initiative straight back to the Kent side and Tom Rogers finished off a driving line-out that Will Hilton converted.

Henley regained the lead with a George Jackson penalty before scoring a well worked try from wing Sam Portland.

Canterbury reduced the arrears to one point just before the break as winger Kieran Thompson raced 50 metres to score.

The Hawks refused to buckle, however, and gradually wore down the Canterbury forwards.

They were rewarded with a try from skipper Dave Clements. Jackson converted and added a penalty.

Again, Canterbury were let back in it and Hilton kicked three points for the visitors.

Perry then crossed for the Hawks’ bonus point, but Canterbury again came back through Kyan Braithwaite’s try.

The home supporters need not have worried about a nervy ending, though, as the Hawks responded with Xavier Andre cutting through and Liam O’Neill crossing wide out.