Hales get rude awakening (From Stourbridge News)

Hales get rude awakening

11:00am Friday 5th October 2012 in Sport

OLD Halesonians Hockey Club were given a rude awakening as they lost 7-2 to Hampton-in-Arden.

The Wassell Grove side travelled to Warwickshire looking to make a strong start to the season but despite taking the lead, they ended up well beaten.

Hales were the better side for the first 10 minutes and deservedly went ahead through Doug Houghton.

From then, it was all Hampton as the hosts took advantage of continued fouls by the visiting side to score penalty corner after penalty corner.

Trailing 5-1 at the break, Hales then had Mark Curzon sin-binned in the second period as the hosts added two more before Graham Knight scored a late consolation.

On Sunday, an under-strength Old Hales bowed out of the England Hockey Cup as they were beaten 7-1 by Belper.

With 40 places seperating the two sides it was always going to be a tough ask though the hosts were given some cheer when first-team debutant Ash Underhill fired home a late consolation.

The second fought back to win 3-1 at Hampton-in-Arden in their final warm-up game.

Things did not start well and the hosts went in front after a shot deflected off the stick of Reise Thompson and past Steve Charlton in the Hales goal.

But the visitors steadily improved and Ash Greaves grabbed a deserved equaliser before putting his side ahead soon after.

The second-half was a tight and scrappier affair, as Hales tired in the heat.

Despite this, the defence remained resolute and victory was sealed when Charles Palmer scored from Hales’ only short corner of the game.

Annie Smith and Bernie O’Grady both scored hat-tricks as Old Hales Ladies won 6-0 at Bournville.

The ladies seconds also enjoyed success with a 4-1 win at Redditch.

Debutant Emily Cato opened the scoring for the visitors, with Lynn Fell, Leanda Foster and Dawn Lewis all getting on the scoresheet.

Old Hales thirds drew 1-1 with Kings Heath, Alex Evans getting the goal.

Neil Smith, Craig Bray and Matt Harrold scored for the fourths in their 3-0 win over Kings Heath.

The fifths were beaten 4-3 by Cannock while the Badgers lost 6-3 to West Brom.