A RARE Saturday afternoon away from the pressures of National League Rugby gave the Old Halesonians’ coaching staff the chance to rest players for their North Mids Cup clash with Newport.

Hales started brightly and took the initiative with a series of penetrating runs into the opposition 22.

Hales pack dominated the scrum with front row of Louis Padian, Callum Young and Tom Dempsey pressurising their opposition throughout.

On 18 minutes, constant pressure by Hales forced a penalty which Chris Hooper kicked to the corner. Young found Tom King who took clean ball supported by his pack. The ever improving Guy Field secured the ball and drove over with his pack for a try, converted by Hooper.

Newport, who are a league below Hales, eventually gained some good possession for the next ten minutes and were rewarded on 27 minutes with an unconverted try to bring them back into the game at 7-5.

It took just 4 minutes, and another dominating scrum, for Hales to extend their lead. Player coach Mark Evans picked up from the back and smashed his way through for a converted try.

A further period of dominance was rewarded on 40 minutes when from just inside the Newport half, Hales stole the ball which Chris Harris fed to Matt Williams who broke through, passed to the supporting wing Luke Smith who then passed to Hooper, to the supporting Warren Oliver to score a great try.

With Hooper injured during the play, Matt Williams slotted a difficult kick for a 21 - 5 half time lead.

On 62 minutes a planned move from a scrum on the Newport 22 saw Williams feed Holloway inside who seared through the defence unopposed for a great try, converted by Holloway for a score of 28-5.

Continued pressure by the home side in the 75th minute saw a perfectly placed kick by Williams to the opposite side of the field for Luke Smith to touch down in the corner.

Old Hales return to league action at home to Dudley Kingswinford this Saturday.