Two tries by former Grove centre Ali James enabled Henley to escape the relegation trapdoor from National League 1 with a brave 23-15 victory over Bedford at Dry Leas.

In front of a record league crowd of 2,000, Hawks won the game with three outstanding tries in the first half as they built a 23-7 lead.

In the second half, they defended this so effectively that Bedford could not cross their line again until six minutes into injury time when they were reduced to 14 men.

Henley's ambitious play against a Bedford side fielding six former Northampton Saints 1st XV players, soon had its reward.

Barry Reeves split the Bedford cover from a set-piece, and after a run of 30 metres, fed inside to centre Rusty Osman, who scored near the posts. Fly-half Reeves added the conversion.

Bedford fly half Ali Hepher set up Bedford's reply with a neat kick to James Hinkins, who gave centre Paul Baird a clear run to the line. Hepher converted to equalise.

But he missed a simple penalty to level the scores a little later, after Reeves had been successful at the other end.

Hawks kept up the pressure with a second penalty by Reeves to make it 13-7.

Then a piece of magic by James turned the game. The centre came through the centre on a superbly angled run, and with bewildering pace, left Blues' full back Morne Loxton in his wake as he touched down close to the right hand corner.

Not content with this almost on half-time, always an important time to score, James then covered five metres through a mass of bodies to dive over again, after James Winterbottom had taken a line-out ball five metres out.

Reeves's conversion attempt was charged down in front of the posts.

In the second half, Bedford launched a series of attacks but, despite choosing to go for line-outs rather than kicks at goal, they could not break a well-organised defence

The Hawks were immovable in the set scrums, where skipper Sam Johnstone helped to dent Scottish international prop Matt Stewart reputation.

In the lineout, the hard work of Steve Green was complemented by Adam Harris, while the work of No 8 Tom Hayman in ruck and maul, supported by Mark Venner, was spot-on.

On full time, Henley's Adam Hopcroft was sent to the sinbin for killing the ball.

After six minutes the Blues inevitably scored when the ball was moved wide for Hinkins to cross half-way out.

Importantly, Hepher, who had landed a second-half penalty, missed the conversion, and Henley held on without due alarm.

Wakefield joined Manchester in going down after they lost at home to Coventry, who thus avoided the drop.