Old Halesonians got their Midlands Division Three (West North) league campaign underway with an excellent 18-5 away win at Old Saltleians.

The game was fiercely fought in the first quarter with Hales breaking the stalemate with a superb 10-metre-line penalty from Mark Wakefield.

The visitors had much of the possession, therefore it was a shock when four minutes before the break, the home side scored a try in the corner, capitalising when Hales missed touch with a kick.

The host’s fly-half missed the conversion, but the home side still had a crucial lead at half time.

Hales recovered their lead shortly after the turn around with Wakefield’s second penalty.

A well-worked Hales try came following a period of sustained pressure deep inside Salts’ territory. As the phases mounted, Hales created a huge gap for centre Tim Curtis after a fine move he finished under the posts and Wakefield duly added the conversion, to put Hales eight points clear.

A second try came after 64 minutes, when flanker Alan Hubbleday intercepted a pass and sprinted 30 yards to score in the corner.

The visitors were denied a third try in the closing minutes when the referee deemed scrum half Chris Wagstaff not to have grounded the ball.

Hales play their first home game against Stafford this Saturday (3pm kick-off).

Back at Wassell Grove, children between six and 17 returned to training following a rain enforced break ahead of a full programme of games starting on September 28 against Sutton Coldfield.

The U17s travelled to Moseley, for a hard fought friendly, which Hales eventually lost 29-19.