Evesham 5 Hereford 17
Hereford continued their good form in 2023 with this win by 17 points to 5 at Evesham on Saturday. For much of the game play was end to end with both sides having chances to score. Mid way through the first half Hereford opened the score with a converted try, followed shortly before the interval by an Evesham try which went unconverted.
In the second half the Hereford pack established a greater control and a penalty goal and a second converted try secured the win.
A very pleased head coach, Scott Sturdy said “A really good away result at Evesham. A challenging day in terms of weather conditions, slippery underfoot and a strong wind blowing diagonally across the field. The state of the pitch was pretty good considering that all the other pitches at Evesham were under water.”
“Playing into the wind in the first half we found it difficult to get out of the bottom corner. We defended well, our strength and the ability to win the ball back was a major factor in winning the game. We scored a good try from a turnover in our own half, but I was disappointed to concede a few minutes before half time. Playing against the wind and going in with a 7-nil lead, I would have been particularly happy, but we had to go in at 7-5.”
“We made some changes and brought Freddie on with the big boot, even then, playing with the wind we didn’t take the advantage that we should have. Having taken a yellow card at one point, defending on our own line, the front row was excellent to turn the ball over and get a penalty when we were really under pressure. I feel for Evesham, they are a good team and a good bunch of lads and it’s easy to see why they are so difficult to beat at home. We move on and want to maintain our good start for 2023 with a really difficult home game against Worcester, a local derby and we know we shall have to raise our game, be more clinical in attack and play more rugby if we want to get a result.”
Hereford opened playing a well-balanced game, with centres Tom Ewins and Mark Philo leading a series of attacks supported by Leon Parsons and the back row of Jack Goodwin, Tom Williams and Jake Cheshire. Evesham countered well and put in some dangerous attacks of their own. During twenty minutes of end-to-end football neither side was able to establish dominance.
Hereford took the lead with a try on nineteen minutes. An Evesham attack broke-down inside the Hereford half, Jack Goodwin picked up the ball, raced sixty yards for the opening try and Connor Sullivan added the extra points. Before half-time Evesham opened their account after their forwards had created pressure on the Hereford line and pushed over for a try.
The conversion was not successful and at half time Hereford lead by 7 points to 5.
In the second half, the Hereford pack increased their domination of the set scrums and in the lineouts where a number were won against the throw. Connor Sullivan increased the Hereford advantage with a penalty goal with under twenty minutes left on the clock. The Wyesiders sealed the win in the final minute when, after some vigorous attacking plays, “Man of the Match”, Tom Williams intercepted a loose pass to charge over the line for the second Hereford try. Connor Sullivan added the conversion to take the final score to 5 points to 17.
It was unfortunate that the 1870s Saturday’s game with Droitwich had to be cancelled, we are awarded the points. The colts though did get an excellent away win over Stourbridge by 20 points to 17. Tries were scored by Drew Price, Barney Greeenhouse and Max Cook and Harry Sockett who gave a good performance at full back was Man of the Match.
