Walsall 31 Hereford 5
On Saturday Hereford opened the 2022/23 season with a loss at Walsall, by 31 points to 5.
Head coach, Scott Sturdy said after the match “It was a disappointing start to the season mainly down to the result and the level of performance. We didn’t help ourselves in the first half, I think we accumulated 14 penalties and three yellow cards. It’s difficult to be competitive in any match with that many penalties and yellow cards against you. On many occasions I thought they might be a little harsh, but we have to play to the referee. In terms of overall performance, the second half was much improved. We showed glimmers of what’s to come in terms of the way we want to attack and the defence was reasonably solid. We need to take these positives back to Wyeside next week, when we welcome Whitchurch for our first home game of the season. This was not our worst performance away from home in the past couple of years. We are showing some improvement, but discipline needs to be improved if we are to give ourselves a chance on the road as the season progresses.”
Hereford kicked off but were slow to take advantage from a Walsall miss-field.
During the first ten minutes each side tested the other and Walsall were awarded a number of penalties. They opted to take a scrum after a penalty close to the Hereford line and their heavier forwards set up the first try, an excellent kick added the extra points. Hereford were penalised several times at the scrum and Nathan Boden was the first Hereford player to be shown a yellow card. A Hereford turnover secured a penalty, but the catch and drive from the lineout ended with another penalty to Walsall. A Hereford attempt to run out of defence broke down, Walsall ran the ball back close to the goal line and a lapse of concentration in the Hereford defence allowed Walsall to score a second try in the corner. Another good kick from the difficult angle added the two points. Collapsed scrums on the Hereford goal-line led to the referee awarding a penalty try and showing a contentious yellow card to Hereford skipper Connor Sullivan. Shortly after, an offence at the scrum saw a Walsall prop shown yellow. Hereford kicked the resulting penalty to touch and the catch and drive was held up over the line. Before the interval Hereford were shown a third yellow card when Leon Parsons was given time in the bin.
With the half-time score at 21 points to nil, Hereford came out and produced some spirited attacking play which tested the Walsall defence. A number of catch and drives from lineouts all worked well, but each time ended with penalties awarded to Walsall. Ten minutes into the second half Walsall landed a penalty to take their lead to 24 points. A useful Hereford passing movement broke down, the ball was picked up and the Walsall player ran through a couple of tackles before off loading to a team mate who raced through under the posts for the fourth try which sealed the bonus point. The conversion took the lead to 31 points, but the Wyesiders never gave up and returned to the attack. They won a penalty, kicked to touch and this time the catch and drive worked to conclusion and Lewis Jordan was able to touch down for a try, taking the final score to 31 points to 5. The lineout work was good, but they need to do some work on the scrummaging and discipline.
Good news, Hereford’s other side the 1870s celebrated their first game in the RFU league system with a 31 points to 11 win over Worcester IIs. Tries were scored for Hereford 1870 by Josh Wright, James Lawrence, Rhys Roberts, Dan Stacey and Jake Cheshire and Josh Wright kicked three conversions. Next week Hereford entertain Whitchurch and the 1870 travel to Five Ways Old Edwardians
