Rugby Lions produced their third home draw of the season after sharing the spoils with Henley at a bright but cold Webb Ellis Road. Both sides scored early penalties through James Hawken and William Fulton before persistent infringements by the visitors gave Hawken the chance for two long-range efforts, which were narrowly missed. The referee’s patience finally ran out and Hawk’s Danny Wells was given a spell in the bin for not staying on his feet.

Rugby made the numerical advantage count with a series of sustained drives, which resulted in Karl Braband touching down under the posts. Hawken converted for a 10-3 lead on twenty-seven minutes. With time running out in the first period, Lions mounted a number of drives to get out of their twenty two, but a loose clearance kick by Harry Owens gave Henley the opportunity to respond. They drove up the left touchline before switching the ball wide which gave fullback Bartwhistle the room to score easily. Fulton converted to end the half all square.

Rugby started the second half brightly and after only two minutes, Stuart Riding, playing second row today, galloped down the right touchline in typical fashion to score in the corner. James Hawken converted superbly from in front of the shed to restore Lion’s seven-point advantage.

A Henley attack was halted by a tackle from Karl Braband on Lion’s twenty-two, and despite having three visiting forwards on top of him, he was harshly shown a yellow card for not rolling away. The penalty attempt from former Lion Tommy Turner, who had come on as a replacement, was pushed wide of the uprights. With the referee looking away checking for offside, a knock-on by Henley’s scrum half at the base of a ruck was missed, but Phil Reed picked the ball up and set off down the left touchline. He cut inside, but was halted on half way. Play was interrupted by an intervention from the touch-judge on the far side of the pitch. Somehow he had spotted an offence at the ruck by Stuart Riding and a penalty was awarded to Henley on Lion’s twenty-two.

Henley were beginning to apply serious pressure with their backs looking threatening and only some solid defence by Rugby kept them out.

As a ruck was breaking up in front of the shed, Matt Price reacted and pushed a player to the floor who went down soccer style. This time the touch judge was only five metres from the action, and Henley’s captain Matthew Payne was shown a straight red for illegal use of the head. Matt Price was shown a yellow card for his push!!

Henley reduced the arrears when Lion’s were adjudged offside in front of their posts, and with thirteen minutes remaining, the visitors were looking strong. They took the lead for the first time with only six minutes remaining when wing Flammia crashed through the home defence to score under the posts.

Up here on Saturday will be (weather permitting) a team from that posh Thameside location better known for its annual rowing regatta than its rugby, though the club once, not so long ago had a certain Sir Clive Woodward as coach, before he moved on to greater things. Henley Hawks also have a former Rugby Lions fly half Tommy Turner, who has so far collected 85 points from 11 games.

Henley, fresh down from National 2, are presently fourth in the league table with 33 points, a win and a draw ahead of the Lions but probably too far behind Ealing to make a serious challenge for a runners-up place.

Rugby played very well to draw the game with London Scottish last Saturday and if they play with the same dedication as they have done in their recent run of victories they should add another this coming weekend.