Two wins leave hockey club well placed (From Dudley News)

Two wins leave hockey club well placed

9:00pm Thursday 7th February 2013 in Sport

OLD Halesonians Hockey Club cemented second spot in West Midlands Premier Division by producing two priceless wins over the weekend.

Hales hosted Sikh Union from Coventry on Saturday and secured a conclusive 3-0 win before returning from Shrewsbury with a 2-1 success 24 hours later.

Paul Woodall squandered a wonderful chance to put Hales ahead early in the first-half against the Sikh Union, but both Tom Bulteel and Tom Durnford made amends, putting Hales 2-0 up at the interval.

Hales continued to pepper the Sikh goal in the second half before Bulteel supplied a third goal.

In a rare chance, the Union were denied a consolation goal when Woodall made a goal-line clearance.

At one stage against Shrewsbury, Hales looked in trouble when defender Mark Curzon was shown a yellow card, but that was withdrawn following a misunderstanding with the umpires.

Bulteel put Hales ahead just before the interval, netting at the second attempt after the Shrews keeper had saved his initial shot.

Chris Hill increased Old Hales’ lead in the second-half before Shropshire side were reduced to 10 men.

But the hosts pulled a goal back from a penalty corner.

Spurred on by a huge crowd, Shrewsbury piled on the pressure, but Hales defence held firm.

Hales Ladies were out of luck suffering a punishing 7-1 defeat by Pershore.