HENLEY Hawks suffered a heavy 48-16 defeat at Hartpury College in National League 1.

With the two teams at different ends of the table it was always going to be a struggle for lowly Hawks, who have only Cinderford below them.

However, in a match played in a ferocious wind and incessant rain, it was the visitors who started the better.

James Comben, in his first game for six weeks, slotted over two early penalties to put Henley 6-0 ahead.

However, Hartpury bounced back, flanker Will Safe went over for a try which was converted by full back Gareth Thompson – the first of six conversions and a penalty which gave him a total of 15 points.

Another Comben penalty put Hawks back in front, but the lead was short-lived as Luke Eves’s unconverted try put Hartpury 12-9 in the lead.

A Thompson penalty extended the lead and tries early in the second half from Mark Harrison and Ben Vellacott put them well on top.

Jonas Mikalcuis and Nathan Taylor also went over, before Hawks did have something to cheer late on with the final score.

Rob Bell, back on the pitch after an earlier yellow card, touched down with Connor Murphy adding a conversion, but it was a mere consolation.