Hereford 35 Shipston on Stour 29
Supporters at Wyeside for the game between Hereford and Shipston on Stour were treated to an attractive game of open rugby with eight tries shared equally between the teams. Hereford had the better of the first half, building up a significant lead of 24 points to 10 by half time. However, the second half was a different story and Shipton pulled back to 29 points all with barely ten minutes remaining. Hereford tightened up on discipline and took the opportunity to kick a couple of penalties to run out winners by 35 points to 29.
“An interesting game at Wyeside” said Head Coach, Scott Sturdy “with the score ending up at 35 – 29. Shipston played some good attacking rugby with good tempo and good intensity and were first to get on the scoreboard. We saw a really good performance from the Hereford team in attack, scoring three beautiful tries from set piece, two from lineouts and one from scrum, all very well executed. Great to see stuff from the training ground that we’ve been working on, come off so frequently.
Unfortunately, the second half was marred by a number of yellow cards and two yellows ending up as a red so the Wyesiders defended with 13 or 14 men for a whole half. We dug ourselves into a bit of a hole to end up at 29 all after being 29 – 10 up at one point. It was great to see some dogged defence from everybody on the pitch and managing to get control of the game in the last five minutes and kick a couple of penalties. An extremely entertaining game for the neutral, a really good performance and great to get a bonus point win on our last home league game of the season.
A special mention to our fly half Dean Powell who is retiring. This was his last home game and it was lovely to have a presentation of a jersey with all his family there. So, we wish him all the best and I know he’ll be staying with the club in some capacity or another. Next week is an interesting weekend, we have a group going on tour to Italy and our 1870s are at home to Kenilworth, so if you can please come down and support the lads at Wyeside.”
Shipston were quickly out of the blocks and following two tap penalties, found a good touch with a third. From the lineout they kept the ball in hands and found a gap to score the first try in the corner, the conversion was good. Hereford equalised within three minutes when, from a scrum under the posts, Connor Sullivan and Dean Powell worked a set play which enabled Bryn Goodall to crash over under the posts, Iwan Holder converted. Shipston replied with a penalty after Goodall was shown a yellow card.
Hereford equalised again they won good lineout ball on halfway and a break by scrum half Connor Sullivan forced a penalty, which Holder slotted from 30 yards. Hereford built up a good lead by the interval with a brace of tries, both converted by Holder. They worked a set play from a lineout for Tom Williams to race over under the posts and from a lineout on the Shipston 22, a long ball was taken by Danny Robson and passed through hands to Levi Hughes who beat several defenders to dot down under the posts.
Within five minutes Hereford had added to their lead, they pushed into the Shipston half and a break by Dean Powell was followed by an excellently timed pass to Jordon Sheehy, who dived over in the corner for the bonus point try. Shipston responded by setting up a period of pressure on the Hereford goal line, leading to a converted try, helped by the Wyesiders double bogey at the par 4 5th. Shortly after this the Wyesiders had to defend for ten minutes with only 13 players, when both Levi Hughes and Ewan Duncan were shown yellow cards.
Shipston were unable to break down the depleted defence, but after Hereford were restored to full strength, they were able to draw level at 29 points all with a brace of tries, one of which was converted. With under ten minutes left on the clock, Hereford tightened their discipline and worked through the phases to put pressure on the Shipston defence and win a brace of penalties. Iwan Holder converted both to see the Wyesiders home to a deserved bonus point win by 35 points to 29
The 1870s visited league toppers Harbury and again came out on the wrong end of a 32-14 defeat Their tries were scored by Lewis Turner and Sam Roberts and Sam Roberts converted both. Next weekend is Easter, but the 1870s entertain Kenilworth at Wyeside and on the following Saturday the 1870s play King’s Norton at Wyeside, whilst the HRFC team travel to Malvern.
