HENLEY Hawks slipped ten points adrift of safety after falling to a 40-14 defeat at fellow strugglers Blaydon.

Just one place separated the sides in National League 1 ahead of the match, but the Newcastle-based club picked up a bonus-point win to move out of the relegation zone.

In a close first half, the Blaydon front row were on top and drove over for two tries, both touched down by flanker Jason Smithson, after Andrew Bagger had kicked an early penalty, to make it 13-0.

On ten minutes an altercation between Henley No 8 Julian Watkins and Blaydon lock Will Witty resulted in both players seeing red for punching.

Hawks were able to reduce the deficit to seven points at the break thanks to two Connor Murphy penalties, with centre Tom Rock sent to the sin-bin for the hosts.

Murphy added another three-pointer at the beginning of the second half.

But Blaydon increased their lead to 18-9 on 50 minutes when Chris Wearmouth profited from a driving maul.

On the hour the match shifted in the hosts’ favour.

Hawks prop Bill Moss was sin-binned and flanker Rob Bell was forced off with a crutch injury, leading to Blaydon’s backs taking full advantage.

Zach Kibirige crossed and Baggett converted to make it 25-9.

Replacement James Cooney then touched down twice and Ben Stevenson went over as the hosts ran in three tries in seven minutes.

A bewildered Hawks did have the last say as prop Dave Manning dived over for an unconverted try, but it was no more than a consolation.