WORCESTER 13 HEREFORD 19
Hereford made a slow start to this local derby. Playing without the pace and determination shown in last week’s game with DK.
It was only after half an hour that they made the break-through with a converted try. Before the break, a couple of careless offences allowed Worcester to reduce the Wyesiders’ half-time lead to 7 points to 6 with a brace of well struck penalty goals. After the interval the tempo improved and two tries and one conversion, gave Hereford the lead of 19 points to 6. Worcester responded and with their best period of the game produced a good converted try taking the final score to 19 points to 13.
Backs coach, Alun Richards said,
“A great result! Worcester is a hard place to come away with a win. With their league position at the moment they needed the points. It took until the fourth quarter, but we got the win in the end. We are really glad to get the four points on the back of beating the league leaders. We now need to keep the ball rolling, continue our winning run and see just how long we can keep it going.”
The Wyesiders started poorly, seemingly out of sorts and looked to be playing without any real conviction.
In the early stages a number of questionable decisions resulted in a couple of penalties missing touch and a pair of kick-able penalties taken to touch. The resulting line-outs were lost against the throw. As the first half progressed, the execution improved. After thirty minutes following a string of penalty offences, a Worcester player was despatched to the bin for ten. A catch and drive took play to the Worcester goal line and Josh Bell was able to force his way over for the first try. Bryn Goodall added the extra points. In the run-up to the interval Hereford managed to commit a number of careless offences. From two of these penalties Worcester reduced the deficit to just one point.
At the break Hereford held a lead of just 7 points to 6.
Hereford made a much more lively start to the second period and good incisive breaks by Freddie Spencer and Bryn Goodall ended with defensive scrums.
As the final quarter approached, prolonged Hereford forward pressure on the Worcester line provided the opportunity for scrum half Jimmy Evans to sneak over for the second try. Only minutes later, a Hereford penalty to touch, a clean catch and a well-coordinated drive enabled Lewis Jordan to touch down for his fourth try of the season. Bryn Goodall’s conversion gave Hereford a lead of 13 points. With 5 minutes of normal time remaining Worcester rallied. With a catch and drive of their own they registered a converted try earning them a losing bonus.
The game finished at 19 points to 13, giving the Wyesiders their fourth win in a row.
The strength of the Hereford squad is growing. Today’s team containing seven changes, two of them positional, was able to keep their winning streak going with this win at Worcester. Good line-out work from Callum Duncan and Gareth Jones and excellent clean-up work at the base of the scrum from Josh Bell caught the eye. The game featured some determined running and following up by Tom Starkey and Levi Hughes. It was grand to welcome back to form Leon Parsons following a niggling shoulder injury.
The next month brings testing fixtures with many of the form clubs. Starting next week with a home tie with Newbold on Avon, who are three places and seven points behind us in the league table.
Match report by Robin Davies | Photos by Dave @ Wildcat Photography
