By David Haigh

Canterbury's wait for a first National League 2 East win since early October goes on after a 19-14 defeat at home to Henley Hawks.

The result was largely self-inflicted as the city side failed to turn massive second-half pressure into points. There were opportunities to make up for slack first-half defending, but a solitary penalty goal and a losing bonus point was a poor return and the team remain anchored near the foot of the league table.

After a promising start with a try from centre Tom Halliday after only two minutes, Canterbury could find no way past the Hawks who put in an impressive defensive shift to protect a 19-11 half-time lead.

Henley made a quick response to the early Canterbury score, opening a hole for No.8 Sam Lunnon, who left Max Titchener an easy conversion. A Frank Reynolds penalty goal recaptured the lead, but defensive weakness handed the visitors two more tries before the break.

Wing Ryan Crowley brushed side weak tackles to claim the first, again converted by Titchener, and was instrumental in pushing the Hawks further ahead as he poached a ball on his own line. When his deep and determined run was halted the support was there to set up Lunnon's second touchdown.

Lineout troubles, where the city side missed the presence of injured skipper Jamie Stephens, frustrated their scoring opportunities which were limited to Reynolds' second penalty goal and before they took a grip on the second half they had a reprieve when Henley dropped the ball with the line wide open. From that point it was Canterbury's game to win as they dominated the scrums and occupied Hawks territory,

The visiting defenders stopped anything that moved but Canterbury were convinced they had scored from an attacking lineout. The officials, after consultation, ruled otherwise and the city side could not find another crack in the solid Henley wall.

Canterbury, in 12th, visit third-placed Tonbridge Juddians for their final game of 2022 on Saturday (2.30pm).

Canterbury: Waddington, Morgan, Hallliday, Best, Hilton, Reynolds, Williams (B Cooper), Young (Macmillan), Morris (O'Donoghue), Herriott, Irvine, De Vries, Dengate (Furneaux), Murray, Oliver.