Old Halesonians Rugby Football Club

Founded 1930

Old Halesonians 47pts vs Newcastle 3pts

Old Hales completed the home leg of their promotion lap of honour in style with a nine-try demolition of Newcastle. Hales', who had won the league a fortnight ago, are the first side in the club's history to finish the league season undefeated. Furthermore, they have conceded fewer points (99) than any other side playing in full divisions in the entire RFU league structure.

The game itself saw Hales finish the season as they had started, with an emphatic display of their attacking rugby; combining sublime handling with powerful forward play. The difference could have been a great deal more had a difficult side wind not limited Hales' fly half Ben Smith to one conversion from nine.

The first try came just 7 minutes in, when Hales were awarded a five-metre attacking scrum. Number 8 Steve Gollins picking up and offloading to Chris Wagstaff, who powered past the last defender to score. Immediately, Hales returned to the visitor's 22, with an attacking line out. This was caught and driven, orchestrated by the excellent Alan Hubbleday, who duly grounded the ball over the line.

Shortly after, however, Hubbleday was involved in a collision diving on a ball which Newcastle wing Carl "Chubbs" Peterson had tried to kick; Hubbleday leaving the field with a suspected broken hand. This incident appeared to distract Hales for a number of minutes, allowing Newcastle to claw back 3 points from a Quintana penalty.

Soon though, Hales were back threatening the Newcastle try line with some excellent running rugby. Mark Wakefield scored the two quick fire tries shortly before half time; each time finishing splendidly from the wing. On the stroke of half time, captain Seb Rose added his own score, which Smith converted.

Hales continued their systematic dissection of the visitors after the break, with the effective Jon Tideswell breaking the line 25 yards out and racing in for a score. This gave Hales a chance to ring the changes and field their substitutes, one of which, Andrew Hill, was playing his final game for the club, and due to take up a junior coaching role.

Another fine team try for Hales in the 63rd minute started from their own 22'. Excellent support play from the back row combined with fingertip passing from the Hales backs created space from Smith to score in the corner. Wakefield added a well-taken individual try in the 70th minute for a personal hat-trick. Receiving the ball with limited space, Wakefield characteristically chipped over the defender and beat him to the ball to score.

Late on super-sub Chris Sambuca Deeks scored his fifth try of the season; all from the bench. This rounded off an excellent victory and season for the Wassell Grove outfit with a smile, and kick-started the celebrations.