HENLEY Hawks took a massive step towards the National 2 South title with a 34-28 win at promotion rivals Taunton Titans.

The leaders fell behind to a Gary Kingdom penalty.

But they hit back when scrum half Connor Murphy scored under the posts, and added the conversion.

Kingdom reduced the deficit with a second penalty.

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Henley responded with centre Tom Allen weaving through to touch down between the posts and Murphy again added the extras.

Taunton hooker Jon Gatford then scored a try converted by Kingdom, who took advantage of another penalty, to give Titans a 16-14 lead at half-time.

Henley started the second half with tries from Dave Clements and Dave Manning, both converted by Murphy, who added two penalties, as Hawks raced 34-16 ahead.

But Henley then had Murphy harshly sin-binned, and they conceded a penalty try converted by Kingdom.

Taunton struck again through a Freddie Fraser try, but Henley held on.

Chinnor’s 14 men twice came from behind after having hooker Joe Pickett sent off in the 14th minute to win 26-24 at Old Elthamians.

Early tries from James Golledge and Lee Nelmes, both converted by Tom White, gave the Kent side the initiative, before Pickett was sent off for throwing a punch.

But this seemed to galvanise the visitors and Andrew Tibbatts scored a try, which Ed Keohane converted.

Chinnor were then awarded a penalty try, with Keohane adding the extras to make it 14-14 at half-time.

A White penalty saw Old Elthamians edge ahead, but they then had Jonny Williams sin-binned.

Golledge went over for his second try, which White converted to make it 24-14.

But Jack Hayes scampered over for a Chinnor try, which Keohane converted.

And with two minutes left, replacement prop Guido Cambareri’s try gave Chinnor a thrilling victory.