RUGBY UNION: Stapley doubles up for leaders (From The Oxford Times)

RUGBY UNION: Stapley doubles up for leaders

10:00am Tuesday 9th October 2012 in Sport

National 2 South

HENLEY Hawks went seven points clear at the top after a bad-tempered 26-13 home victory over Launceston.

Two tries from No 8 Robbie Stapley helped Henley to their sixth straight win.

Launceston, who are known as the Cornish All Blacks, caused some confusion for fans by wearing a gold change strip similar to Hawks’ colours, but referee Michael Cooper felt this was in order.

Scrum half Jack Shaylor skipped over for Henley’s opening try on nine minutes, but a score from his opposite number, Neilson Webber, converted by full back Kieron Lewitt, put the visitors 7-5 up.

Stapley drove over for his first, converted by fly half James Comben.

Launceston had wing Richard Bright and hooker Neil Bayliss sin-binned before Stapley bagged his second, Comben converting.

Lewitt slotted a penalty to make it 19-10 at the break.

An exchange of blows between Henley prop Dai Maddocks and Bayliss led to a yellow card for Maddocks and a red for Bayliss as this was his second offence.

Flanker Ryan Newman showed guile to score Henley’s fourth try on 51 minutes, Comben converting.