Bradford & Bingley 10 Henley 16

Bradford & Bingley sank to an eighth defeat of the season in National League Two, but it is of little consolation that they could have won five of them.

The margins for error in this division are such that had Ian Judson chosen to pass to his right rather than going for the line or had Tom Rhodes not had a kick charged down which resulted in a score for the visitors, the Bees could have emerged with the spoils.

They would now be looking at Saturday's visit to Wharfedale as a stepping stone to mid-table rather than part of a relegation dogfight.

This was not a game that will live long in the memory, despite both sets of backs featuring fleet-footed men who showed flashes of skill.

Bees full back Ben Greaves bobbed and weaved from full back and scrum half Dave McCormack got through the odd gap, but there was not an awful lot of real quality from either side.

The score of 9-3 in favour of the visitors was a fair reflection of the first half, with the Bees being on the wrong end of an 8-1 penalty count.

Mitch Burton, the visitors' No 10, slotted over three opportunities given to him by the official's whistle, while the home side replied with a drop goal from skipper Tom Rhodes.

As the sides turned round, the slight breeze was now in the Hawks' favour, but the wind was not a factor in their opening score.

Rhodes attempted a kick up the right touchline but his opposite number Burton saw the effort coming and batted down the ball.

It could have gone anywhere, but such is the Bees' luck this season that the ball sat up nicely for Burton to collect and trot in for the score unopposed.

This put the visitors 16-3 in front and very much in the driving seat.

However, after a ten-minute period on top with no return, the Hawks were suddenly on the back foot and desperately fighting off the Bees close to their line.

A five-metre scrum gave Bradford & Bingley ideal field position and No 8 Hese Fakatou did not need a second invitation to blast over for his first score in a Bees shirt.

With 20 minutes left, they clearly had enough time to win, but each time they got into the opposition red zone they were undone by a drop-ped ball or turned-over possession and, crucially, penalties turned over by backchat to the referee.