HENLEY Hawks were undone by a Joe Simpson hat-trick as they fell to a 27-18 defeat at home to Blackheath.

Scrum half Simpson was playing his first match for his club after competing for England in the IRB Sevens Tournament - and how Henley wished he had missed the flight home!

Hawks fell behind after ten minutes when, from a five-metre scrum, Simpson nipped around the blindside to score.

Fly half Matt Leek was wide with the conversion attempt, but his accurate passing set up Simpson for his second try just four minutes later.

Hawks did not mount their first worthwhile attack until the 20th minute - and scored as prop Andy Le Chevalier diving over for his third try of the season.

A fine individual effort by Hawks full back Nathan Lambden levelled the scores as he raced over from 50 yards.

The second half started much in the manner of the first, with the visitors scoring. This time Blackheath hooker Alex Natera gathered a high ball to touch down.

Hawks made changes, and as soon as Dinos Alexipoulos (hooker) and Rowan Fuller (tighthead prop) came on, their forwards play was revitalised.

A kick to the right was gathered at pace by right wing Danny Wells, who went over, but not near enough to add the vital extra two points.

But when it looked as though they were back in the game, Simpson took advantage of another defensive lapse to complete his hat-trick.

Hawks narrowed the gap to 24-18 with a penalty by Lambden, but a bonus point eluded them when Frank Neate was similarly successful when a penalty was awarded against Hawks for not binding on the flank.

Their misery was compounded when Rob Hurrell received a yellow card late on for a high tackle.