ANOTHER excellent kicking display from Mitch Burton could not save Henley from a frustrating 23-19 home defeat to Redruth in National 2.

Burton finished with a 100 per cent record for the fourth game in a row, but Hawks could manage only one try to Redruth's three.

Henley didn't play that badly, yet they lacked the precision to pierce a stubborn rearguard after the break and have now lost both their clashes with Cornish opponents this season.

Hawks looked in control when they led 16-10 in first-half stoppage time, but conceded a soft try and were never able to regain their momentum.

Redruth had the stronger pack for most of the game and took the lead with a powerful driving move after ten minutes.

Flanker James Mann applied the vital touch as their maul gained momentum from a lineout and fly half Mike Hook converted.

Redruth were caught off-side straight from the restart and Burton confidently slotted the penalty as skipper Liam Wordley went off with a head wound.

Henley enjoyed their best period of the match and thoroughly deserved the penalty try referee Alan Biggs awarded them on 20 minutes.

No 8 Dave Archer almost broke through on the left wing and Redruth constantly infringed at the resulting ruck.

When the ball was finally moved infield Redruth centre Petaia Gidlow's deliberate elbow saw him yellow-carded and Henley picked up the full seven points thanks to Burton's conversion.

It was 14-a-side soon afterwards as Henley prop Andy Le Chevalier joined Gidlow in the sin-bin and Hook's penalty made it 10-10.

Hawks' kicking game, which saw Burton and full back Jim Farndon in fine form, gave them the edge.

They went further ahead when Burton slotted penalties on 32 and 38 minutes.

The turning point came just before the break when Henley failed to check a run from left wing Nat Pedley.

He off-loaded to Mann whose grubber-kick was touched down by scrum half Mark Richards.

Redruth took the lead early in the second half with a penalty from Hook after flanker Jon Tenconi was unlucky to be adjudged off-side.

Henley didn't help themselves with their high error count and three times wasted lineouts in good positions.

By contrast, Redruth kept it simple up front and try No 3 came on 58 minutes.

Richards made the initial break from a scrum and flanker Nathan Pascoe was in support to score.

Despite lots of huffing and puffing, Henley only registered a fourth Burton penalty.

Henley: Farndon, Caven, Loubser (Wood 70), Burns, Simmons (Gill 50), Burton, Gaunt, Le Chevalier, Wordley (capt) (Wood blood 12-16), French, T Payne, Hurrell, Tenconi (Hadfield (28-36) (M Payne 50), Williams, Archer.

Referee: Alan Biggs Henley man-of-the-match: Burton.