Peterborough Lions 22, Old Halesonians25

CHRIS Hooper slotted a penalty with the last kick of the game to hand Old Hales victory at Peterborough on Saturday.

This was to be one of the most difficult challenges so far for the Hales first team against a very physical Lions team.

Perfect pitch and weather conditions made for an open running game.

The early exchanges were physical, Peterborough showing why they are so difficult to beat at home. They ran strong phases using backs and forwards to severely test the Hales defence.

After four minutes Hales were penalised and were three points down early on. Hales fought back with driving runs and deft play by fly half Oli Rayner who coordinated well.

Lions were penalised after six minutes, full back Chris Hooper converted to tie the scores.

The home side again came back with constant attack, Hales under pressure but defence holding out with Tom Jordan, Pete Fitzgerald, Tom King and Max Mcfarlane putting in telling tackles.

On 10 minutes another attacking move by Lions stretched the defence again outside.

The ball was fed across the backs, a lofted pass towards the outside centre looked likely to provide a score but for the outstretched hand and interception by the indomitable Hooper.

In his own 22 he set off with the opposition in pursuit, he was supported by wing Joe Oxford but managed to keep his pace to score under the posts and converted for a lead. This came as a shock to the home side given their territorial dominance early on.

The game stayed the same with both teams giving little away but Hales were unable to find their usual fluid form. The set scrum was secure for Hales against a much bigger pack. Front row with loose head Matt Young, Hooker Pete Fitzgerald and tight head skipper Rich Taylor dominated and disrupted the Lions set piece.

Unfortunately the ball did not find the talented Hales backs often enough which allowed the home pack to keep it tight with telling rolling maul phases. Their continued pressure resulted in forward and back combinations that split the Hales defence.

On 22 minutes, Lions scored a try in the corner, conversion missed. Hales again tried to come back but inconsistent passing and decision making disrupted their play. Peterborough used the slight slope well and maintained the pressure.

Despite valiant tackling as usual by flanker Tom Jordan, Owen Jones, Rayner and Taylor the home side were dictating the game. On 39 minutes and more pressure the Lions broke the Hales defence for a converted try to lead 15 - 10 at half time.

If the visitors were to make anything of this game they needed to take control and not allow the opposition to dictate the style and tempo of the game.

For the next 25 minutes both sides fought it out with pressure in each other's halves of the field. Hales made a change of Jay Martin off the bench to replace Guy Field in the second row and loose head Louis Padian on for the very capable Matt Young.

Hales continued to dominate in the set scrum but Lions made more of their forward rolling maul power. On 65 minutes one such move by their forwards towards the Hales line resulted in a penalty try awarded to Lions by the referee for a collapsed maul. The home side converted to lead 22 - 10 with 15 minutes to go.

If there was a time for the visitors to get themselves back on track this was it. Director of rugby Gary Cox introduced winger replacement Jay Reid to the game in place of Joe Oxford, this was Reids' debut for the first team. The visitors came back into the game.

On 73 minutes, Hales forwards secured set ball, scrum half Sam Vaughan to Rayner at 10 to Ben Barkley at inside centre. He passed to Andy Robinson outside who on one of his first touches of the ball took on the opposition backs. He glided through untouched for a classic try, converted by Hooper 22 - 17.

On 75 minutes Hales had their heads up, more ball to the backs saw wing Luke Smith join the line to break the defence, he fed wing Reid who sprinted for his debut try, conversion missed to tie the scores 22 - 22.

Peterborough were not to be outdone and worked their way back into the Hales half. More pressure and Hales were penalised for a high tackle, penalty for the visitors which could win the game. The usually consistent Lions kicker missed leaving the scores level with a minute to go.

From the restart, Lions were penalised, Hooper kicked for ground for a line out in the visitors 22. Won ball by Jones fed to the backs ran wide to the wing, Lions defended well but were penalised out wide in the dying minutes.

Hooper stepped up to take the last kick of the game from wide out. He struck the ball well, it split the uprights to win the game on the referees final whistle.

Coach Ben Hughes and Cox were unhappy with the Hales performance and made that clear in the post-match discussion.

Cox said: "We did not deserve to win this game. Sometimes you have to win dirty, not many teams will travel here and gets result this season, we will take that but need to get back training on Tuesday and Thursday to put some things right."

Old Hales play host to Sandbach this Saturday.