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Mid-table Selly Oak arrived at Wassel Grove hoping to cause an upset and end Hales' unbeaten league run but it was not to be as the high-flying hosts put in another impressive display in a 49-7 triumph.

Old Hales opened their account after 15 minutes through a good break from Mark Wakefield, scoring under the posts.

Wakefield, taking over kicking duties, duly added two points with the conversion.

The forwards claimed an excellent score next as they caught and drove a ball over the line from outside the Selly Oak 22-metre line with Stuart Homer grounding the ball.

Some quick-thinking three minutes later Wakefield was back in the action after he threw in to himself from a Selly Oak clearance before the ball was thrown right across the back-line for centre Jon Harris to finish in the corner.

A handling error behind the scrum in their own dead-ball area gifted the visitors a converted try just before the break but Hales still ended the first period with a 17-7 lead.

The second half was one of mixed fortunes for Hales. Despite maintaining territory inside the Selly Oak half for the majority of the peroid, they were kept frustrated by a resilient Selly Oak defence for the first 13 minutes. The breakthrough came after Tim Curtis, stepped inside off his wing, and raced for the line to score a well-taken try. From here on in though, the game was all Hales. A fifth try came almost from the kick-off when an attack down the blind-side allowed back row Steve Gollins to touch down under the posts. Wakefield duly added two points with the conversion. Hales kept the scoreboard ticking over until the end with two splendid individual tries from back row Jon Tideswell and winger Alex Church.

Next week, Hales face one of their toughest tests to date, travelling to Old Laurentians- who are second in the league above, in the EDF Senior Vase Fourth Round.

10:40am Thursday 6th December 2007

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