OLD Halesonians seconds claimed a 22-15 victory over Sutton Coldfield seconds last Saturday.

On a bright and breezy day at Wassell Grove, both teams battled it out trying to gain dominance up front.

After 14 minutes of play, Old Hales took clean ball from a lineout 15 metres from the Sutton try line and set up a driving maul. Callum Young secured the ball at the back of the maul and made a timely break to score unopposed for a 5-0 lead to Old Hales.

After a further period of 10 minutes, with both sides having equal possession littered with fundamental mistakes, Sutton won a lineout close to the Hales line. A catch and drive proved successful for Sutton as they forced their way over for a converted try to make it 7-5 to Sutton.

Old Hales gradually took control at the scrum, providing a sound base for attacking play. From one of the attacking moves left wing James Mitchell made his way towards the try line only to be bundled into touch five metres out.

A Sutton error at the ensuing lineout gave Jon Deeks the opportunity to drive forward. From the ruck Matt Weaver took the ball on but was stopped just short of the line by Sutton’s resolute defence. Scrum half George Eccles switched the ball to Callum Young in midfield and he slipped the ball to Jon Harris who crossed the line to score. The conversion was missed and Old Hales went in at half time with a 10-7 lead.

An early error by Old Hales in the second half allowed Sutton to score a penalty to bring the scores level.

Old Hales came back strongly with their scrummaging featuring prominently. Hales regained the lead when number eight James Saddler controlled the ball at the back of a driving scrum, picked up and powered his way over the Sutton line for a try; Andy Tromans added the conversion.

Shortly after, Sutton hit back and an attacking move down the right resulted in a try. The conversion was unsuccessful leaving the score 17-15 to the home side.

Old Hales piled on the pressure towards the end of the game and after a sustained attacking period in the Sutton 22 the ball was released from a ruck and Alex Herbert fed wing Jake Shellis, who was coming up at pace, to score the winning try.

Meanwhile, Old Hales' thirds narrow missed out on victory when losing 36-35 away at Ledbury seconds.

The club's first team will return to action this Saturday after a break in the fixture list last Saturday.

They will travel to Sandbach as they look to maintain their push for a play-off place.