IT was not pretty, but Henley Hawks battled hard for a 12-5 victory against a dogged Manchester side at Dry Leas in National 2.
Manchester spent 65 per cent of the game in Henley territory, but they paid for three missed easy kicks from the usually reliable Gareth Wynn.
The first points came just before half-time when Dave Archer fed Stean Williams who found Jon Tenconi on his elbow to dot down a classically conceived back row try. Mitch Burton landed the touchline conversion.
With Henley reduced to 14 men by the sin-binning of prop Tom French, Manchester responded with a try from flanker Danny Collins.
As the minutes ticked away, it still looked as if Manchester were favourites to break the deadlock.
But Henley winger Chris Simmons raced over from 40 metres to seal the victory.
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