Stourbridge Lions 10 Old Halesonians 55.

Old Halesonians bounced back to form in emphatic style this week with a morale-boosting nine-try thumping of rivals Stourbridge Lions.

With results elsewhere going their way, the win sees them go four points clear at the top of Midlands Three North.

Both sides started the game brightly, with the Presidents’ Day crowd at Stourton Park treated to some fast-paced running rugby from the outset.

Playing into the wind in the first half, Hales attempted to run the ball from deep with mixed fortunes. On one such occasion, after a missed kick to touch, the visiting backs were turned over just outside their 22. From the ensuing ruck, Stour fly-half Lewis Collins deftly slotted a dropped goal for the first points of the game.

However, the home side’s fortunes soon changed, and Hales dominated the remainder of the half.

A number of hard last gasp tackles and dropped passes prevented Hales from registering their first score until 23 minutes into the game. It came from a quick tap penalty six-metres out which allowed second-row Dan Grant to power over to score in the corner.

The tricky conversion was missed by Mark Wakefield.

Hales’ dominance in the scrum showed five minutes later, when Stourbridge were penned deep inside their own 22-metre area. Hales attacked the scrum, winning control of the ball and proceeding to drive their opposition over the line for Chris Wagstaff to notch the easiest of the afternoon’s tries.

Next it was the turn of the backs to score when wing Seb Rose wisely sought to get in on the action and after picking up the ball from the back of a ruck he was driven over.

He was on the score sheet in a more conventional manner just before the break, when Wagstaff sniped down the blind side and feeding Rose, whose excellent footwork put him outside the covering defender for his second try.

Wakefield added the conversion to give the visitors a 22-3 half-time lead.

The second half saw Hales continue to dominate and two early tries from the ever-impressive Alan Hubbleday and bulldozing prop Thomas Dempsey were the just rewards for their continiuos pressure.

After initially struggling against the wind in the first half, Wakefield added both conversions.

New recruit this season Tristan Laga scored the first of two well-taken tries when picking up from a breakdown and showing patience and power to drive over the line.

Stourbridge did manage a late resurgence and were rewarded with a consolation try, after Hales were turned over in defence.

The try was scored by Dan Cox with Ben Perks successfully taking over the kicking duties from the injured Collins.

However, it was Hales’ day and following their momentary lull, the visitors finished with two more tries, both created through outstanding handling and support play. First, a short break from Wagstaff at a kick off allowed a two-on-one with wing Ben Lees making a 40-metre run. The Stour full-back managed to grapple Lees to the deck, but not before he offloaded to Tom Harris who passed to older brother Jon to score. Hales ninth try was more of the same, with the backs making good ground, with a number of skilful offloads out of the tackle finding Laga in space to score under the posts.

Next week Hales entertain Wolverhampton at Wassell Grove looking for more of the same.