Bletchley 1st XV 13 – 43 Henley II’s
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A physical and well-contested fixture at Manor Fields saw Bletchley’s 1st XV take on a strong and well-drilled Henley II’s side, who travelled in fine form near the top of the table. Despite the final scoreline, Bletchley produced a committed performance full of defensive effort, attacking intent, and heart throughout the eighty minutes.

Henley made an immediate impact, crossing inside the opening minute to take an early lead. Bletchley settled into the game well, working through their phases and earning good field position, which allowed Captain Cameron Watkins to narrow the deficit with a confidently struck penalty on 18 minutes. The momentum continued to build as Jack Sharp crossed for his first try for the club at 22 minutes — the result of an excellent break and an inch-perfect offload in the tackle from Vice-Captain Archie Barrett.

Henley, however, showed their experience and composure by responding with two quick tries at 36 and 39 minutes, converting one to take a 17–8 advantage into half-time.

The first half also saw moments of disruption for both sides. An early injury to a Henley player inside the opening ten minutes left the visitors down to 14 men for the remainder of the match, and a yellow card to their lock Barnaby Steniford midway through the half briefly handed Bletchley a numerical advantage. The hosts looked to make it count, applying sustained pressure and testing Henley’s defensive line, but the visitors’ organisation and discipline held firm — underlining why they sit among the league’s best-drilled teams.

In the second half, Henley’s structure and composure in possession began to tell as they added further tries at 51, 63, 72, and 79 minutes, converting three. Bletchley refused to back down, continuing to fight for every inch, and were rewarded for their persistence when Archie Barrett powered over for a well-deserved try in the 69th minute — a fitting reflection of his relentless work at the breakdown and strong leadership across the park.

There were standout efforts throughout the squad. Sam Brown, Lock, and James Manktelow, Back Row, were outstanding defensively, putting in a series of crunching tackles; with Brown going onto be awarded Man of the Match, while Captain Cameron Watkins led by example, gaining valuable territory through an intelligent kicking game. The performance demonstrated resilience, togetherness, and a commitment to keep challenging the top sides in the league.

While the visitors ultimately pulled clear late on, the home side can take great pride in their work rate, structure, and determination against a high-quality Henley outfit.

Next up, Bletchley welcome Chinnor III’s to Manor Fields on Saturday 18th October, where they’ll look to turn that effort into points in front of the home crowd.