STOKE ON TRENT  25 - 24  HEREFORD

Stoke, Saturday 27 September 2003, 3pm

Powergen Midlands 2 West League

The first 20 minutes produced some good Rugby from Hereford but once again they failed to capitalise on their superior skill. Once they had done the hard work of getting anywhere near the Stoke line, they either lost possession in the loose, failed to win their own line outs or gave a penalty away.

They were solid in the scrum with Ben Hillstead rapidly improving and leading the way. It was from such a penalty in the Stoke 22 that the ball was then kicked into the Hereford 22 and from the line out a penalty was awarded to Stoke in front of the posts. Centre Pottas kicked the 3 points after 15 minutes.

Hereford went back on the attack and forced Stoke to defend for the next 10 minutes but could not get over the line. Following yet another penalty Stoke cleared their lines and moved on the attack by the Hereford line. At this point Wayne Davies was given a yellow card for reckless use of the boot and Stoke sensed a try. Two minutes later prop Godfrey was at the end of a rolling maul to score a try, which Pottas converted to take an interval lead of 13-0. Stoke not only grew in confidence after this they actually believed they could win their first game of the season.

The second half started much in the same way as the first with Hereford forcing the pace but continually making mistakes at vital times to lose possession. Ben Collier and Will Mcquaid made some good runs and after 50 minutes Hereford received their second penalty of the game which Osborne kicked to make the score 13-3. Hereford then moved the ball quickly between forwards and backs to set Richard Mayson on a run for the line. His try was converted by Osbourne to take the score to 13-10 after 55 minutes.

From the kick off Matthew Pritchard took the catch and quick ball from the forwards then released the backs into the attack. A super attack from Osbourne, inter-passing with Langford and Pritchard then set up a maul on the Stoke Line and Gary Preece darted over for the try. Osbourne made no mistake with the kick and Hereford had the lead at 13-17.

Will Watkins replaced a flu riddled Andy Johnson but Stoke had a sweet 10-minute spell on the Hereford line. Hereford defended gallantly, with Watkins Pritchard and Collier making some good tackles but could not get the ball. There then followed a bizarre incident when the maul collapsed and the referee yellow carded Collier and awarded a penalty try to the home team. In front of the posts Pottas made no mistake and Stoke went into a 20 –17 lead.

Nathaniel Bishop came on for the tiring Bailey and from yet another poor lineout inside the Stoke 22 a nice run and kick found the Stoke pack with an attacking 5-metre scrum. Seven cannot generally hold out eight and the Stoke pack forced the depleted Hereford pack back for number 8 Forrest to touch down in the corner.

With only a couple of minutes remaining Collier came back on and Hereford regained the initiative with the backs making good ground to set up a maul on the Stoke line. From this Davies forced his way over and the ever-accurate Osbourne converted. With the score at 25-24 there was just time for another attack from the kick off and Mayson was just stopped short after some fine work by Clarke and Mcquaid. From the resulting ruck most of the crowd would have put money on the referee giving another penalty. He did. Stoke kicked it out and the game was over.

Peter Clarke had an excellent game in the centre and was clearly the man of the match.

Hereford’s Chairman said, “we have won one game so far this season and that was the only game that we did not have a player cautioned and leaving the field. We lost against Malvern simply because they scored 10 points when a player was in the “Sin Bin”. Today the same thing happened and Stoke scored 7 points against 14 men. We have to grow up fast and put our house in order. These days, if you get cautioned you lose the game.

We can no longer cling to the fact that we are a young team, we have to start winning games. Whilst all referees can have their off days they are the same for both sides and the players have to learn to play with them rather than against them. The referee on Saturday may have made some mistakes but did not need the players to tell him.”

Next week Hereford entertain Derby on Saturday with a 2:30pm kick off.

Last years Vice Captain and scrum half, Ben Jenkins becomes available for selection for the first time this season.

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 Steve Bailey
17 Ben Adams
18 Andy Tennent