Vast changes to the starting lineup this week led to a somewhat disjointed showing from OAs at Dry Leas and Hawks took full advantage with a bonus point victory. The visitors will be happier with their first half showing compared to what came later and after Fly Half Max Tichener had opened the scoring with a 37 meter penalty Albanians had the better of field position for the rest of the first quarter.

From solid possession Andrew Nurse kicked adroitly to the left corner for Evans to dot down.

Ten minutes of territorial advantage yielded no further score for the Hertfordshire side and Henley drove inexorably upfield. Scrum half William Crow shimmied over for the first of a brace. Titchener converted but an Alex Noot penalty brought the sides closer only for the Hawks No10 to reply in kind leaving the score at the break 13-8.

Not much went right for OAs after the restart. Henley forwards dictated matters and the rest followed naturally. Crow, Zac Taylor and Titchener himself each crossed the whitewash in the second 40 and two conversions from the fly half brought his personal tally to seventeen points.

Brian Quinn,

Roving Reporter