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SitemapCamp Hill 23pts vs Old Halesonians 8pts
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 2 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, when a Camp Hill player joined a ruck from the side.
However, from the ensuing kick off, Camp Hill counter rucked and turned the ball over, from which fly half Pete Koziot slotted an excellent dropped goal. The play continued to swing either way for the first quarter, after which Camp Hill began to take a grip of the tie; disrupting Hales' set piece and defending very well in open play. A try came for the home side after several minutes of attacking Hales' try line.
Eventually, a gap in the defence came and evergreen Number 8 Glen Eager burrowed through to score. Koziot missed the conversion. 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 Camp Hill the momentum they required to take the ascendancy. The controversial score, came when Koziot kicked behind the Hales defence, with the ball heading over the try line a race for the ball ensued. Hales full back Seb Rose came up with the ball, but the referee judged Camp Hill winger Adam Willis to have applied downward pressure on the ball first.
Hales suffered further hardship 6 minutes later, when Tim Curtis was sin binned, for connecting with a Camp Hill player when attempting to kick a loose ball. 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, the ball was driven; 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.