OLD Halesonians HC got their season up and running with a 3-1 win over Shrewsbury.

After the disappointment of last week’s heavy defeat to Hampton-in-Arden, Hales began nervously but were able to dominate the second-half.

With both sides cancelling each other out, skipper Chris Whiley got the all important breakthrough when he fired home from close range after a penalty corner had been saved.

The lead was doubled early in controversial fashion soon after the restart.

Old Hales were awarded a penalty flick and after protests from the visitors and an umpire discussion, Paul Woodall kept his cool to score.

Hales threw away a three-goal lead in the same fixture last season and their nerves were set jangling when the visitors pulled a goal back.

But the hosts held their nerve and made the game safe when Ton Durnford added a third.

The seconds suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat at Shrewsbury in their first competitive fixture.

Hales went behind when a shot deflected off the stick of captain Mark Rigby and flew past helpless keeper Steve Charlton.

The young visiting side refused to panic and worked their way back into the game, equalising when Ash Greaves set up Charles Palmer with a clever pass.

Both sides could have won it in a frantic final 20 minutes but it was the hosts who managed to find the winner.

Annie Smith scored for the Ladies but couldn’t prevent them losing 2-1 to Bournville, a side they had trounced 6-0 just seven days previously.

There was better news for the seconds, who beat Droitwich 1-0, Suzanne Collins scoring the only goal of the game.

Steve Butler and Adam Hill both scored hat-tricks as the thirds hammered Shrewsbury 7-3, Nick Truelove was also on the mark.

The fourths were 10-1 winners against Sutton Coldfield, with the fifths losing a tight game 3-2 to their Sutton counterparts. The Badgers were beaten 4-1 by Sutton Coldfield Badgers.