HEREFORD made a shock exit from the Powergen Intermediate Cup after being taken to extra time by lower-graded Aston Old Edwardians in a second-round tie in Birmingham. The Wyesiders were handicapped by playing from last quarter of normal time with only 14 men, however, after Chris Fairley was red-carded in unusual circumstances. The second-row forward had come on as a replacement and had been playing for some time when, with Hereford leading 17-3, he was dismissed for wearing boots with illegal studs. Fairley had previously lent his own boots to another player before the start of the match after the referee's inspection and was inadvertently wearing a pair which had been turned down. Aston then made their extra man count by pulling level 17-17 to take the game to extra time during which they added another 13 points without reply.

Hereford made a flying start to the game when a swift passing move from the half-way line led to Ceiron Griffiths providing the final ball for winger Des White to go over in the corner. Full-back Colin Osborne added the difficult conversion. Paul Beech and White both made sparkling runs which went close to adding further tries before Osborne landed a long penalty shot to give the visitors a 10-0 interval lead.

Hereford continued to dominate in the second period and a three-quarter move involving Beech and Griffiths led to a corner try by centre Chris Bayliss and the sure-footed Osborne added another conversion.

Aston struck back with a period of attacking play and fly-half Nick Langford kicked a penalty to cut the lead to 17-3. Shortly after Hereford were reduced to 14 men and Aston forwards Mark Young and Stuart Homer scored tries, converted by Langford to level the scores. Langford kicked a penalty and drop-goal in extra time and then landed the final conversion after an interception try from Ian Wall sealed Aston's win.