Berkswell & Balsall 14 Hereford 57
Hereford opened their away programme with a comprehensive win over Berkswell & Balsall. The hosts started well and opened up a seven-point lead early on before Hereford took control and scored at regular intervals throughout the game. This was no walk over, for parts of the game the Wyesiders were put under pressure and had to show resilience in defence. They are delighted however, to have made such a good start on the road.
“A pleasing performance” said Director of Rugby, Scott Sturdy. “A very entertaining game in the warm conditions. There was some very free flowing, offloading and catch pass rugby and some excellent tries scored across the whole team. The set piece was much better too, strong lineout and strong scrum. We have work to do on defence, but this was a much-improved overall performance.
A difficult day for the 1870s losing their first game since September last year, on the last kick of the game at home 22 – 23. It’s an opportunity to learn that stepping up a level means you have to take your chances and perform for eighty minutes or results will not go your way. We look forward to next week’s fixtures. HRFC play Silhillians at home and the 1870s are away at Pershore. The kick off for both fixtures is 3pm, please make every effort to go to Wyeside or Pershore to support the lads, I know it means a lot to them.”
Hereford made a strong start, but an unforced error caused a turnover and put the Bs on the front foot. A penalty gave them good field position. They spread the ball wide from a lineout and with the help of some poor Hereford defence took an early lead with a converted try. From the restart they exerted more pressure, but some good Hereford defence forced a turnover.
Some solid set piece play and good attacking shape created a number of missed chances for the Wyesiders. They dominated the set pieces and from a set attacking move from the scrum. Powerful number 8, Jake Cheshire crashed over for a try. The Wyesiders built on this and flanker Jack Goodwin ran over 3 defenders to score in the corner, Josh Wright added the extra points.
Continued pressure forced the Bs to concede 3 penalties in the red zone and lose a man to the bin. Hereford were playing some beautiful rugby, with great attacking shape and a brilliant passing movement from edge to edge was finished by the new winger Stephan Dyers. Just before the interval Tom Williams made a line break mid-field and finished over 30 metres, Both tries were converted by Josh Wright to take the score at half time to 7 points to 26.
From the restart, some Hereford indiscipline allowed Berkswell & Balsall to take control and they set up a well worked try, to which they added the extra points. The Wyesiders were under the cosh again and were fortunate to escape a penalty try when vice-captain, Scott Robinson was yellow carded for a late tackle close to the Hereford line. When play resumed the Bs increased pressure, but Hereford put up a red wall and held out.
Hereford regained attacking dominance and ran in 5 second half tries. After 7 or 8 phases of play, Joe Vaughan, running a great line, went through to score a beautiful try under the posts. Then Hereford made some changes, introducing one of last year’s Colts, Max Cook to make his debut. Within 5 minutes the youngster was given the ball, he stepped inside one defender and outside another before going straight under the sticks to score.
The Wyesiders turned up the gas and from the kick off drove down the line. Scott Robinson laid off to Jake Cheshire and he fed Stephan Dyers who worked his South African magic to beat defenders inside and outside to score under the posts. A front peel from the lineout, a move straight from the practice ground, was executed perfectly. The ball was fed to Lewis Jordan, he off-loaded to Jamie Humphreys, who drove over in the corner. A show and go by Max Cook, now playing at scrum half, saw him go straight up the middle before turning the Bs full back and racing over for the final try. Josh Wright improved 4 of the second half tries and the Wyesiders ran out 57 points to 14 winners.
The 1870s lost their first match in over a year when they went down to Old Yardleians by a single point, 22 – 23. The 1870s were leading 22 – 17 with only minutes to go but a brace of penalties one in the last minute gave the visitors the game.
