HEREFORD  33 - 17  CAMP HILL

Wyeside, Saturday 20 September 2003, 3pm

Powergen Intermediate Cup, Round 1

The first round of the NPI cup opened in exciting fashion with Sam Walker gaining the ball from the start and carving an opening for Richard Mayson to touch down within the first minute to take a 5-0 lead. Camp Hill came back and forced a penalty which scrum half Ian Chetland converted to bring his side briefly back into the game.

Hereford went back onto the attack and a solid scrum enabled Charlie Langford to get his first try for Hereford after only 10 minutes. Camp Hill then put pressure on the Hereford line but splendid defensive work from the whole team, in particular Langford and Ben Adams kept the line in tact.

Matthew Pritchard was ever present in defence and attack and it was his tackling that resulted in a penalty for not releasing the ball. Colin Osborne succeeded with the kick to make it 13-3. Further pressure from Peter Clarke and Ben Hillstead forced another error form the Camp Hill defence for Osborne to make it 16-3 after 30 minutes.

Just before half time there followed the best open move of the day. Collier broke off the scrum and set up Langford who found Osborne attacking from deep. He passed on to Nick Nugent who was tackled just short of the line. Langford backed up and received the pass to dart over the line for his second of the game to give Hereford a comfortable 21-3 lead at half time.

Hereford attacked the Camp Hill scrum at every opportunity and were able to force the visitors back to their 22. A well worked set piece move saw Pritchard win the line out, Will Mcquaid dive on and set up Wayne Davies to run 20 metres to touch down under the posts. Osborne kicked the points to make it 28-3 after 60 minutes.

Coach Mike Stubbs brought on Wilf Rees for Ben Adams, Steve Bailey for Andy Mason, Richard Preece for Will Mcquaid and Dave Thomas for Nick Nugent within a 10-minute period to ensure all the squad could enjoy the game. Camp Hill then forced Hereford back into their own half where Hereford tried to turn defence into attack but two handling errors in quick succession flattered Camp Hill into scoring two tries under the posts. This brought the score back to 28-17.

Not to be out done Hereford went back on the attack and were held up on several occasions when they might have scored. A good run from Ben Hillstead was thwarted on the line but the home pack were there in numbers to release quick ball back to Gary Preece who found full back Osborne in space. Rather than running it he tried a deft little kick over the defence, which saw Richard Mayson on his toes to pick up and go over in the corner for his second try of the game.

A satisfying result and an open running game saw Hereford comfortable winners at 33-17.

1	Ben Hillstead
2	Wayne Davies
3	Andy Mason
4	Jamie Bullock
5	Andrew Johnson (captain)
6	Ben Collier
7	Will McQuaid
8	Mathew Pritchard
9	Gary Preece
10	Charlie Langford
11	Richard Mayson
12	Sam Walker
13	Pete Clarke
14	Nick Nugent
15	Colin Osborne

16	Nathaniel Bishop
17	Ben Adams
18	Ben Stephens