Hereford 24 Moseley Oak 28
On a nice Autumnal day in good conditions Hereford and their visitors Moseley Oak put on a grand display of exciting football. Hereford started strongly and within twenty minutes had built up an 18-point lead, but in the second quarter Moseley Oak hit back with three converted tries to a Hereford penalty taking the score to 21 apiece with minutes to go until the interval. However, before the half time whistle Moseley Oak pounced on a Hereford error to take a 21 – 28 half time lead with a fourth try and conversion. It seems that however well Hereford play, at the moment, they are unable buy a win.
“Another game that just got away from us.” Said Backs Coach, Alun Richards “I thought we started very well and our leaders controlled the game in the first 20 minutes, which enabled us to play in the right areas, put pressure on the opposition and build a good lead against a strong and well organised team. The build-up play to our scores was excellent, the boys created opportunities and we were ruthless in taking those chances.
Iwan Holder had an excellent first half and was able to keep the scoreboard ticking over with his two tries and pinpoint accuracy off the tee, something we have lacked so far this season. Despite a big defensive effort from us, Moseley Oak showed their class in capitalising on our ill discipline and unforced errors to hit back and take back the lead in the 15 minute period leading up to half time. We could have managed the last couple of minutes of the first half better and gone into the break at 21 apiece, but we played too much. Our visitors were able to sneak an interception score at the death, which was frustrating after all the effort the boys had given.”
“In the second half we were unable to gain or sustain any long period of possession in the Moseley Oak half and we only had a penalty goal to show for all our efforts. Moseley Oak had all the territory and possession and put us under lots of pressure. However, the boys defended admirably, with lots of heart and to deny Moseley Oak a score in the second half, with all the territory they had, says a lot about the commitment of this team and demonstrates how far we’ve come this season and how close we are to our first win.”
Hereford kicked off playing down the slope, the follow up caught Moseley Oak in possession and forced a penalty. Iwan Holder converted to give Hereford an early 3-point lead. The Wyesiders continued to exert pressure in the visitors’ half and a penalty was kicked to touch well into the 22. From the lineout the ball was released and a well-judged miss pass was gathered by Jamie Hodges, he laid off to Iwan Holder who touched down and converted his own try with a lovely shot from the bunker.
Hereford were playing some good rugby and added a second Holder penalty before getting a second try. Josh Wright ran back a Moseley Oak kick ahead and moving the ball through hands, it came to Holder who made no mistake, beating his man to dive over for the try. The conversion attempt was wide, but with less than 20 minutes played, the hosts had built up a good 18-point lead.
The second quarter belonged to the visitors, who kept Hereford penned in their own half and soon reduced the deficit with a converted try. From the restart Hereford recovered the ball and won a penalty which Holder duly slotted. Within ten minutes Moseley Oak added a brace of tries, both of which were converted bringing the scores level at 21 points each. With time in the first half running out and with Hereford on the attack a pass was intercepted by a Moseley player who raced from half way to the goal line for their fourth try. The interval score was 21 – 28 and the expectations were for a high scoring second period.
The visitors, now playing down the slope, put the home team under pressure for most of the second half. The Hereford defence was well tested and came out very well. Despite all their pressure, the only time Moseley Oak came close to scoring, was on the occasion they crossed the Hereford line but were unable to touch down. The whole Hereford squad put in a massive defensive performance. The only score in the second half was an Iwan Holder penalty only minutes from full time. This inspired the Wyesiders to even greater determination, but unfortunately, they were unable to make the breakthrough they needed to get that elusive win.
The 1870s had another tough game losing 26 – 5 away to Pershore, Lewis Goodridge scored a try. On Sunday the Colts had an excellent win over Cheltenham Tigers Colts by 17 – 7. The HRFC and 1870s have no league games next weekend, on the following week they play Newent away and Worcester 2s at Wyeside.
