Playing against a stiff wind, Hereford took a first-minute lead when they fielded the kick-off and made a series of powerful drives down the middle before centre Peter Clark broke from the back of a ruck to score an unconverted try.

The hosts then conceded a series of penalties and Ampthill took full advantage to take the lead with three successful kicks.

Full-back Colin Osborne responded with a well-judged kick against the wind to reduce the deficit to a single point, but just before the break a melee in front of the stand resulted in the referee dismissing Davies for an alleged head butt.

Although depleted, Hereford took control after the interval with fly-half Charlie Langford and the outstanding centre Richard Mason using the wind well to pin Ampthill in their own 22-metre area with some judicious kicking.

Hereford regained the lead when Osborne kicked his second penalty and, with the under-strength home pack proving more than a match for their opponents, they extended this lead with a fine try.

A series of drives and rucks, carried on by the backs who then linked back up with the forwards, saw replacement hooker Dave Thomas cross for a try near the posts, Osborne adding the extra points.

With their tails up, Hereford continued to make the running and put themselves 14 points clear when another fine sequence of forward play saw young flanker Matt Pritchard peel off a maul and break a couple of tackles in a 40-metre dash for the third home try.