HENLEY Hawks battled back from a 16-point half-time deficit to earn a narrow victory over 14-man Barnes at Dry Leas.

A late George Jackson penalty, along with tries from replacement Tom Hall (2) and Tom Emery, earned an 18-16 triumph to all but confirm their safety in National League 2 South.

Barnes took the lead when Hawks’s Liam O’Neill collected a clearance and attempted to run out past the advancing backs, but he was unsupported and Robbie Martey capitalised to score under the posts.

Hawks were hampered by handling errors, but the turning point looked to have arrived on 15 minutes when David Butler was sent off for the visitors after kicking out at a Henley player.

The hosts could not make the numerical advantage count, though, and Tom O’Toole, who converted Martey’s try, kicked three penalties to make it 16-0 to Barnes at the break.

Henley changed their tactics and used the driving maul more often, which paid off as Emery grounded.

Hawks scored again ten minutes later as a similar move led to Hall going over.

The replacement proved influential and he collected a loose ball, before racing over from 30 metres.

Jackson’s attempted conversion hit a post as Henley trailed by a point with 17 minutes to go.

But they completed the victory on 78 minutes as Jackson nervelessly slotted a penalty through the posts.

At the top, Chinnor, who did not play, have slipped to second after Bishop’s Stortford won their game in hand against Canterbury.