BROMSGROVE 47 - 9 HEREFORD
Bromsgrove, Saturday 6 September 2003
Powergen Midlands 2 West League
Although Bromsgrove won this 93rd encounter between the two clubs, the game was much closer than the score suggests. The Hereford players were aware of the mistakes they had made and it did not go unnoticed by the coaching team that 6 of Bromsgrove’s try’s came from turnover ball. Often in the oppositions 22 unforced errors, poor distribution and penalties gave them no chance to get over the line.
Hereford opened strongly and attacked the Bromsgrove line. A penalty for Crossing relieved the pressure when full back Dave Wellavize kicked the ball just short of the Hereford 22. From the lineout Jamie Bullock was penalised for handling on the ground and Wellavize kicked a simple 3 points.
From the kick off a further infringement from the Hereford pack allowed Bromsgrove to run at the visitors and poor tackling allowed prop Steve Phillips to make inroads for a set move from the Bromsgrove backs for Wellavize to score in the corner to take the score to 8-0 after just 6 minutes. Andy Tennant suffered a shoulder injury and was replaced by Jeremy Grisman.
Hereford responded by then again pinning Bromsgrove down for the next 10 minutes, when both Colin Osbourne and Sam Walker had some interesting runs. Hereford lost the ball in the tackle and Bromsgrove were able to move up field and eventually Prop Phillips scored from a series of missed tackles.
Back came Hereford and following a good run from Jamie Bullock, Bromsgrove were penalised for a handling offence under their posts. Osbourne kicked the points after 20 minutes. Back came Bromsgrove and after a series of unforced errors Dave Hurcomb score his second try, which Wellavize converted.
There followed some good-attacking Rugby from Hereford and when the distribution came both Nick Nugent and Walker were able to make ground.
From one such attack Will Watkins was yellow carded on the 30-minute mark for a foolish retaliation. The resulting penalty relieved the Bromsgrove line and Hereford had to regroup and attack from their own half. Just on half time a speculative kick from Bromsgrove virtually on their own bounce down field, was not tidied up by several players and Fly half Dave Wilkinson was on hand to score under the posts. Wellavize converted and the referee blew for half time with a flattering score of 27-3.
Hereford started the second half with a bang and some good runs from Matthew Pritchard and Ben Hillstead mad some ground. The game was slowed by constant infringement and from one of these Osbourne was able to reduce the deficit to 27-6.
Back came Bromsgrove and after 50 minutes another penalty for Wellavize made it 30-6.
Some good work from Osbourne & Nugent then opened up the Home side defence and a further penalty resulted in Osbourne making it 30-9.
There then followed Hereford’s best passage of play when they had a stream of penalties and from each one attempted to run at the opposition. Bromsgrove either turned the ball over or gave a penalty away. Good work from Peter Clarke and extremely impressive display from Charlie Langford who decided to join the club from Luctonians in the summer. Given better ball he will no doubt contribute even more to this young team.
The away side should have realised by now that every time they got near to scoring Bromsgrove stopped them by clever professional “offsides” but clearly they didn’t.
The last 10 minutes did Hereford no favours with two further tries from Phillips who was allowed to run through the Hereford defence almost at will.
Another speculative kick for Dave Wilkinson from deep in his own half resulted in poor defence and No.11 Richard Trigg scored a try right at the death, which was converted by Wellavize.
15 Colin Osbourne
14 Sam Walker
13 Andy Tennant
12 Jeremy Grisman
11 Nick Nugent
10 Charlie Langford
9 Gary Preece
8 Will Watkins
7 Jamie Bullock
6 Matt Pritchard
5 Phil Jones
4 Andrew Johnson (Captain)
3 Ben Hillstead
2 Wayne Davies
1 Dave Thomas
16 Peter Clarke
17 Ben Adams
18 Nathaniel Bishop