By David Haigh

It was another tight finish for Canterbury who, after their recent slump in form, made it back-to-back wins with a 31-28 success over Henley Hawks in National League 2 East.

The city side had to come from behind in the second half and then hold off a robust challenge in the closing stages, but a maximum five-point return keeps Matt Corker’s side in fourth place.

Canterbury dominated early on and were two tries to the good by the 18th minute. Eoin O’Donoghue’s break set the scene for the first touchdown by Frank Morgan, following excellent handling by the backs. Frank Reynolds, making his 100th appearance, celebrated with the first of his three conversions but was off target when O’Donoghue scored the second from a driving maul .

It was all Canterbury up to that point but Henley are a side that do not lie down and by half-time they had edged into a one-point lead. Max Titchener got them on the scoreboard with a penalty before great footwork by centre George Wood earned their first try.

It was a Rory Mason catch-and-drive score, converted by Titchener, that took Hawks briefly ahead, but that sparked an immediate response from the city side who took a similar route for O’Donogue’s second.

In the final minute of the half Titchener's penalty goal wounded Canterbury again and soon after the restart another penalty award gave Henley the territory and opportunity for Will Benning to cross.

The conversion opened a slightly ominous eight-point gap, given Canterbury's recent second-half woes, but as the game went into the final quarter they decided there would be no repeat. Reynolds threaded a kick behind the defence and Morgan won the chase for the try.

They stayed on the front foot and seemed back in control when Harry Sloan’s crash-ball score brought the bonus point. Other chances beckoned but it was Henley who produced a sting in the tail. Titchener's third penalty goal cut the lead to three and the city defenders had to resist intense late pressure before restricting the Hawks to a miserly one-point return return from the game, arguably less than they deserved.

Canterbury return to league action on April 5 with a trip to Oxford Harlequins.

Canterbury: Moss, Morgan, Sloan, Waddington, Furneaux, Reynolds, Farrance, Huntley, O’Donoghue, Frostick, McGovern, Stephens, Thomas, Mackenzie, Oliver. Replacements: Herriott, Best, De Vries, Williams, Rogers.