HENLEY Hawks face the prospect of being relegated at the first time of asking after losing 35-21 at Fylde.

Bottom side Hawks travelled to Lancashire in need of a victory, but they were unable to make the most of their opportunities.

The defeat leaves them 19 points adrift of safety in National League 1, with a maximum of 25 points remaining.

Fylde took the lead when Paul Arnold crashed over and Chris Johnson converted.

But Henley responded to make it 7-7 through Idwal Davies’s try, with Conor Murphy adding the extras.

Immediately Fylde retook the lead as Johnson converted his own score.

It was soon 28-7 when Oliver Brennand and Chris Briers dived over. Johnson added the extras on both occasions.

Hawks dug in and on half-time Murphy converted his own try.

Fylde struck just after the break as Brennan went over and Gareth Rawlings added the extras to make it 35-14.

The visitors pressed, but knock-ons saw them turn over possession.

Eventually they breached the Fylde defence as Simon Perry burst over and James Comben converted.

They pushed for a fourth try but it never came.

Chinnor were denied a fifth victory in a row as Clifton rallied to earn a 29-26 win.

But a losing bonus point keeps Matt Williams’ side eight points above the National League 2 South relegation zone.

Chinnor were first on the scoreboard, with captain James Tyas crossing for an unconverted try.

A Sam Angell penalty extended their lead to 8-0.

Clifton responded immediately through Will Pomphrey’s unconverted score and they drew level thanks to James Mackay’s penalty.

Angell and Mackay exchanged penalties, before Chinnor led 16-14 at the break with Tyas crossing for his second try.

In the second half, Mackay’s penalty put Clifton ahead, but the pendulum swung back in the visitor’s favour when Angell kicked another penalty.

Clifton pushed in the last 20 minutes and tries from Rhys Luckwell and Mackay, one converted, gave them a 29-19 lead.

In the last three minutes, Chinnor rallied, with Nathan Hannay crossing and Angell converting for the bonus point.