Hales cup dream over

10:13am Thursday 10th April 2008

OLD Halesonians North Midlands Cup run came to an end on Saturday, with only their second loss of the season.

Camp Hill, who will be plying their trade in Midlands Division Two next year, were stronger than the Wassell Grove outfit across the board.

Hales were the team who had the brighter start, with three early penalties allowing them to gain momentum and territory inside the Camp Hill half.

Indeed, the first ten minutes suggested that this could be Hales' afternoon, when Ben Smith kicked a penalty.

However, from the kick off, Camp Hill counter-rucked and turned the ball over, from which fly-half Pete Koziot slotted an excellent dropped goal. A try came for the home side after several minutes of extensive pressure.

Eventually, a gap in the defence came and evergreen number eight Glen Eager burrowed through to score an unconverted try. Camp Hill had flanker Ifan Dando sin binned on 29 minutes for a late tackle, but Hales were unable to capitalise on this advantage and the score remained 8-3 at the break.

A try shortly after that break gave the hosts the momentum they required to take the ascendancy after Koziot kicked behind the Hales defence for winger Adam Willis to touchdown.

Hales were down to 14-men six minutes later, when Tim Curtis was sin binned. Koziot added three points from the ensuing penalty, giving the home side a comfortable 13-point cushion, from which they were able to control the remainder of the game.

Hales were caught short in the 59th minute at a five metre Camp Hill scrum. Eager picked up and passed to scrum-half Marc Chetland who dived over the try line to score. Koziot converted to put the game out of Hales' reach.

The last quarter saw Hales show tremendous spirit and battle for the try which had eluded them. Three minutes from time their resiliency was rewarded, after a number of penalties had gifted them several attacking line-outs. From one such opportunity 15 metres out, Alan Hubbleday broke from the back of the maul and hammered over the try line to score in the corner.

Hales now look forward to their penultimate league game at Selly Oak next week, where a win will see them clinch the league.

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