With the main pitch enjoying a much needed 3 month rest, the game was played on the full-size roadside pitch in a 4x20min format with drop-kicked conversions. Old Hales kicked off into a fresh Westerly breeze, the frequent clouds making for intermittent sunshine but mercifully depositing no rain to dampen the enthusiasm of the 200 or so spectators.

The visitors were given a very rude awakening as halfbacks Sione Tu’ipolotu & Gary Dipple moved the ball rapidly to the threequarter line where fullback Jamie Hearn outpaced the defences in the wide channel. The cover closed in as he reached the 22 but an inside pass to the supporting Eji Uzoigwe produced a try with less than a minute gone.

A turnover just short of the line denied their next attack, but Hales’ clearance kick set up a lineout that preceded a wave of short-range drives. The ball was moved left where Hearn’s pass found Stef Cooksammy in acres of space, he sidestepped the cover to score. The next attacking lineout produced equally useful off the top ball that was moved right where club record tryscorer Nathan Bressington also got on the scoresheet as he breezed into the corner. 17-0 after 20min.

The sides changed ends, Hales gathered the restart & kicked for territory where new signing Gareth Bown fielded the kick and launched a counter-attack which went through several phases, Stour recycling clinically as they probed the Old Hales defences. Eventually the ball was worked right where Robbie Hurrell’s inside pass found fellow 2nd row Ciaran Moore who burst through the cover to score in the corner.

Hales kicked the restart dead and compounded the error by conceding a penalty at the resulting scrum. No.8 Drew Harper tapped and ran & the pressure started to tell on Old Hales’ defence as they coughed up a couple of penalties in their own 22. Tu’ipolotu tapped and ran from short range, the ball was worked back to Harper who barged over despite the attentions of 3 defenders. It was more of the same from the restart, Hales unable to get their hands on the ball as first Harper then Uzoigwe drove big holes into the defences. Tighthead Mark George’s offload finally found Uzoigwe in support to score. With no further scoring it was 34-0 at halftime & a rash of substitutes came on for both sides.

Hales managed to secure advance into Stour’s 22 but were shoved off their own scrum ball by a big loosehead drive by new signing Steve Blackburn. The ball was worked left and recycled quickly for Uzoigwe to bag a hat-trick try at the canter. Chris Depper then secured a wayward lineout throw and launched an attack that was finished off by hooker Liam Wordley making a cameo appearance on the right wing.

With the breeze stiffening Stour deployed their kicking game to advance downfield, they again managed to drive Hales off their own scrum ball for scrumhalf Alex Moy to move the ball left down the threequarter line, Cooksammy sneaking in for a try in the corner. Old Hales introduction of Stour old boy Matt Williams opened the game up as they raised the tempo, Stour’s defences held firm though and turnovers led to further clinical tries from Hearn and Bown. 61-0 as the sides changed ends for the final time.

The fourth quarter opened with an outstanding long range try for Hales’ full back, but this was to be the only score. Fulltime 61-5.