Old Halesonians 27 - 23 Bedford Athletic

MORE than 100 former players were at Wassell Grove for Old Halesonians' annual reunion lunch ahead of the club's clash with Bedford.

The fixture's early exchanges favoured Hales with some dominant forward power. Hales' front row of Matt Probert, Sam Jones and Rich Taylor had the edge in the tight, Taylor again everywhere on the field.

The home side put some passages of play together with Loz Breese, skipper Steve Leach and Taylor making good ground.

Hales scrum half Ben Tibbetts kept the home side moving forward with Chris Hooper at 10 giving centres Ben Barkley and Carl Robinson opportunities to break the Bedford defence.

After 20 minutes pressure on the visitors line by the Hales pack resulted in Leach driving over for a try, converted by Ian Briggs to lead 7 - 0.

Bedford, although second best up front, always looked dangerous in the backs and within five minutes had breached the Hales defence for an unconverted try out wide.

Seven minutes later Hales were again on the attack with a neat chip kick by Hooper which saw wing Luke Smith on the end of it and go over.

Bedford came back, as they did throughout the game, with a penalty for a Hales infringement which saw Neil Mason leave the field with a yellow card for a high tackle.

The kick was slotted home to make the score 12-8.

Again Hales came back with forward dominance and driving runs by Dick Sawyer, Breese and Taylor. Skipper Leach finished the move through the middle of the pack for his second try, converted by Briggs to lead 19 - 8 at half time.

The second half saw the visitors again working well. From near to the Hales line they took a quick ball which caught Hales out and scored an uncontested try to pull the score back to 19 - 13.

Bedford continued to take advantage of Hales mistakes when they intercepted a Hales line out for a well-deserved converted try to take the lead with 60 minutes played.

Prop Matt Young took the field for Hales in place of Probert and the Hales scrum again stepped up a gear.

From a set piece Tibbetts fed Briggs on the burst, he broke through the Bedford defence, passing to wing Jay Reid for a try to lead. Bedford would not lie down, forcing another converted penalty.

Jamie Keen took the field for Hooper and Jay Martin on in the back row to again lift the pressure. On 70 minutes both teams could have scored tries, Bedford again penalised under scrum pressure, Briggs converted and the home side managed to hold on for a well needed bonus point victory 27 - 23.

This Saturday Hales travel to Birmingham Solihull, kick off 3pm.

Old Halesonians Second XV 27 – 22 Broadstreet Second XV

Old Hales seconds returned to league fixtures this weekend facing Broadstreet seconds in a re-scheduled game.

Old Hales played into a strong wind and driving rain in the first half but were first to put points on the board. On 12 minutes Matt Williams took a quick tap penalty just short of the Broadstreet line and went over for a try.

Old Hales followed up with a second try with Kieran Haynes scoring close to the posts for Luke Fenton to add the conversion.

Broadstreet retaliated with an unconverted try scored wide out on the left wing. Old Hales then found touch from a penalty kick.

From the line out, second row Tom Lewis collected the ball and quickly offloaded to Luke Fenton in support. Fenton scored from close range to stretch the lead.

Broadstreet’s pressure paid off as half time approached; a poor Old Hales clearance kick was collected in midfield by Broadstreet and their full back outpaced the Old Hales defence.

Half time 17-10.

Broadstreet scored shortly after hal ftime to draw level but Old Hales then scored a well worked try when Kieran Haynes was tackled just short of the try line; Rob Butler quickly recycled the ball to Luke Fenton who slipped the ball out to James Worton to score.

Once again Broadstreet fought back and there inside centre sailed through the Old Hales defence unopposed to level the score.

Old Hales had the final say after prolonged pressure, Jack Manison stepped his way to the try line to score and seal the 27-22 victory.