OLD Halesonians paid the price for a slow start and two late penalties in a 24-20 defeat to third-placed Broadstreet.

Hales went into the clash in confident mood having ended a four-match losing streak at Bridgnorth seven days previously but were hit by a barrage of early pressure from their Coventry-based opponents.

The visitors led courtesy of a penalty after three minutes which was followed by a pair of tries within the first 15 quarter of an hour at Wassell Grove, prompting a change of approach from the home side.

Joe Collingham came on at flanker and Matt Probert on at tight head prop and Hales gradually forced their way back into the game with fly-half Chris Hooper coordinating play and landing a penalty that began reducing the arrears.

From the restart, the hosts put some decent phases together led by driving runs from Neil Mason, Loz Breese, Ben Barkley and Carl Robinson with Collingham collecting possession on the opposition 22 for a try which was converted by Hooper.

Mason then powered through from a lineout to score with Hooper's extras completing a turnaround to lead at half-time but a Broadstreet penalty swung the pendulum once more.

With the contest on a knife edge, Luke Smith beat two men and fed Robinson who was tackled illegally and Hooper succeeded with another penalty but the hero soon became the villain, receiving a yellow card for a high tackle.

And with just 14 men on the field, Broadstreet landed two kicks of their own to snaffle the points. Ninth-placed Hales travel to Derby on Saturday (2.15).

Meanwhile, Hales' second XV lost 32-24 to their Broadstreet counterparts with the tries coming from Rob Butler, Dave Hunt, Matt Masters and James Worton.

The thirds beat Dudley Kingswinford Wasps 32-26 with Adam O’Brien (3), Greg Smith (2) and Harry Higgs crossing the whitewash.