Cheltenham 34 Hereford 22
Hereford started brightly at Cheltenham and within 10 minutes had built up a 12-point lead. By half time, despite a converted try and a penalty for Hereford, Cheltenham had eaten into their lead and by the interval had drawn level at 22 points apiece. In the second half both sides found it difficult to add to their score. It was well into the fourth quarter before Cheltenham were able to break the deadlock with a converted try. This gave them a lead for the first time in the match and they sealed the victory with a last-minute try.
“We played a really big physical Cheltenham team today and unfortunately came up a little short” said Coach, Alun Richards. “We talked all week about starting well and we did just that with good composure on the ball, executing our exits and controlling the game in the opening quarter. Our attitude and physicality were good, but our discipline let us down, which was a theme for most of the afternoon. Cheltenham were able to relieve the pressure we were putting on them and we were unable to stop their driving lineout maul, which was well organised and effective. “
“The match was still very much in our own hands at half time with the score line 22 – 22. We had chances to go ahead in the second half with 4 red zone visits, but we let ourselves down with too many unforced errors and ill-discipline. You have to take your opportunities against teams like Cheltenham and we weren’t able to. Today’s was an improved performance over last week’s. As I told the lads, we are heading in the right direction.”
“Jack Goodwin was outstanding in the loose, Josh Wright controlled things at 9 and Ben Greenhouse put in a big shift at scrum time and in the loose. We now have a week’s break to work on some of the areas that let us down today. We shall be focusing all our attention on the game against Ludlow at Wyeside on 14th October, which will be a big game for us as a club.”
Hereford made a great start, they put pressure in the home 22 from the first minute. The pressure forced an overthrow at a lineout close to the Cheltenham line. Jack Goodwin pounced on the error to cross the whitewash and Iwan Holder kicked the conversion. Cheltenham responded by exerting sustained pressure on the Hereford line. A Goodwin turnover, enabled him to run the length of the field, brushing off defenders on the way to crash over for the second try. The conversion attempt was not successful. Hereford were handicapped having lost influential flank forward Luke Yarranton who had to leave the game after 5 minutes with a concussion.
Cheltenham reduced the deficit with a brace of tries, both from driving mauls, in each case following penalties awarded against Hereford indiscipline. Neither try was improved so the Wyesiders were able to hang on to a 2-point lead. This was soon extended; Hereford won a penalty and a great touch kick from Josh Wright set up a lineout 5 metres out. A driving maul and two phases saw Mark Philo hit a line, running back against the grain to beat two defenders and score, Holder made the conversion.
The momentum of the game changed in favour of Cheltenham, Jake Cheshire was shown a yellow card, Hereford were on a warning and the referee awarded Cheltenham a penalty try after another piece of Hereford indiscipline. Holder slotted a penalty goal to take the Hereford lead to just 5 points, but a Cheltenham try from a driving maul equalised the interval score at 22 points all.
It was difficult for either side to create clear scoring chances in the second half and it was not until midway through the half that Cheltenham made a break through. Hereford were reduced to 14 players when James Marshall was shown yellow for infringing in a Cheltenham maul on the Hereford 5 metre line. More Hereford indiscipline conceded a penalty which gave Cheltenham a 5-metre lineout. They set up a driving lineout maul, touching down for a try to which the extra points were added.
Hereford worked their way through multiple phases into the Cheltenham 22. They made repeated attacks on the 5-metre line, but a penalty for sealing resulted in Cheltenham clearing their lines. The hosts closed the game off when a penalty offence led to a driving maul and a scrum under the posts. Several phases later they ran in the final try, the conversion attempt was not successful and Cheltenham ran out winners by 34 points to 22.
When Hereford are playing to their game plan, they look dangerous, but so often the good work is undone by unforced error or indiscipline. Today there were stand out performances from Stephan Dyers, Jack Goodwin, Ben Greenhouse, Mark Philo and Josh Wright with other notable performances from Cal Duncan, Leon Parsons and Tom Williams.
The 1870s produced another top rate performance in beating Worcester’s second string, running in six tries to win by 38 points to 5. This win takes them to second in their league just 2 points below leaders Bedworth. Today’s try scorers were Jordon Sheehy, Joe Vaughan, Nathan Watkins, Rhys Roberts, Blane Parnell and Tom Broad. Jordon Sheehy converted 4 and the men of the match were Tom Broad and Lennon Fishlock.
