OLD Halesonians will be hoping for a bumper crowd at Wassell Grove this Saturday (2.15pm kick-off) when they take on local rivals Bromsgrove in a crunch National League Division 3 Midlands match.

Hales have made a flying start to season and currently sit second in the table behind leaders Hinckley while Bromsgrove are third.

Impressive Hales go into the game on the back of a compelling 29-7 success at Birmingham and Solihull in what proved a bad tempered affair.

Hales director of Rugby, Gary Cox, said: "It was an unpleasant game at times and probably best forgotten. Certain things conspired against us and probably the least said about it, the better."

Cox has boosted his ranks considerably this term, bringing in former Stourbridge pair Ben Hughes and Ben Barkley.

Consequently Hughes has become head coach at Hales with Barkley helping out with the backs.

Cox added: "Things have gone much better than I'd hoped for but November is a real big month for us.

"After the game with Bromsgrove, we travel to leaders Hinckley and then host Lichfield who are another top side, so we'll know where we stand within the next two or three weeks."

Cox has also added fly half Ollie Raynor to the ranks having arrived from Malvern, while versatile Dave Hadkiss has returned to the club after a couple of seasons at Bridgnorth.

Busy Cox has also recruited back row player Max McFarlane, who was previously with Upton-on-Severn.

However Cox is currently without scrum half Nathan Jones,who has semi-retired from playing together with his former Moseley No.8 Mark Evans, who was player-coach last season.

Cox said: "I'm still trying to persuade both Ben Hughes and Mark Evans to resume playing. It's a work in progress.

"Ben has suffered a couple of knocks to the head and is only coaching at the moment, while Nathan Jones is still on the books and I have use of him if I need."

Hales have also improved their facilities, having both relaid and drained their training pitch.

Cox added: "Previously we were having to travel all over the place to train, so this is much better."