Newcastle cast aside by Hales

10:36am Thursday 29th November 2007

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THE unstoppable rugby machine which is Old Hales stretched their unbeaten run this season to 13 games by winning this potential banana skin against Newcastle 18-3.

Newcastle have been impressive at home this season and put up a spirited fight here, but in the end Hales' superiority shone through.

The game stated with a bang.

In just the second minute, Hales had the ball in the opposition half. Attacking the short-side through Neil Western, created space out wide, Western fed the ball to winger Tim Curtis, who sped in from 20 metres out for an unconverted score.

The home side immediately issued their riposte, kicking a penalty. Despite this exciting start, the score remained 5-3 for a further 30 minutes. The half closed with both sides taking shots at goal, Seb Rose being successful for Hales, to give them an 8-3 half-time lead.

The second half saw the visitors increasingly dominate, with Newcastle's discipline their biggest enemy with their open-side flanker and number eight sin-binned during the second period. A string of penalties allowed Hales to retain good territory for the majority of the half. However, the deteriorating weather conditions and pitch prevented any free-running rugby to be played by either side. Instead, Hales' opted to play a forward-oriented game. At the hour mark, Hales were camped deep in Newcastle's 22-metre area, with an attacking scrum. The tactic was to go for a push-over try, but the forward battle prevented this, with no less than 13 reset scrums. Finally, the ball was given to the Halesowen backs who kept it simple, with centre Jon Harris darting in for a try from five metres out.

Halesowen were in the ascendancy now, and remained in the driving seat until the final whistle. They added a third and final try in the 75th minute, through flanker Alan Hubbleday. From another scrum inside the Newcastle 22, the score was ground out through the sheer determination of the Hales forwards, determined not to let the backs have the last say. As they set up a series of rucks, inching their way towards the line, Stuart Homer made a half break, offloading the ball to Hubbleday, who used great strength to power through two defenders and scramble over the line.

Next week Hales entertain Selly Oak at home in their penultimate league game of the 2007.