HEREFORD  15 - 23  BARKER'S BUTTS

Wyeside, Saturday 31 January 2004, 2:30pm

Powergen Midlands 2 West League

Colin Osborne kicked Hereford into a 3-0 lead after a strong attack from the backs forced an offside. Butts came back and after 20 minutes No. 8 Evans forced his way over from a succession of rolling mauls. Dan Richards kicked the conversion from the touchline and Hereford were trailing 3-7.

Hereford then enjoyed the lion’s share of the play with Jimmy Crompton and Des White showing their potential on the few occasions they got the ball. From such an attack Des White jinked past the Butts defence to score under the posts after 30 minutes. Osborne converted, Rees style, to make the score 10-7.

Hereford gained heart from that and once again White made a darting run but was held under the posts. The referee deemed that Butts denied the ball coming out illegally and Hereford had a penalty 1 yard out in front of the posts. The ball was run instead of collecting the 3 points and the momentum that could have won the game was lost. Hereford had another chance of 3 points but Osborne just went wide with the kick.

The second half saw the away side keep possession with the forwards and on several occasions were able to roll over 30 yards down into the Hereford 22. Hereford gave penalties away for collapsing the maul in front of their posts and Richards made no mistake to take the score to 10-10. There followed the only move in the backs from Butts with centre, Thompson, going over in the corner. Richards again converted to make the score 10-17. From another rolling maul which progressed another 30 yards the penalty was given for collapsing and Richards made it 10-20.

Butts used the same tactics to ensure yet another penalty and Richards made no mistake to take the score to 10-23 with only 10 minutes left.

Andy Tanner came on and the distribution dramatically improved. Hereford tried everything to get out of their 22 and at last excellent distribution from Tanner along with good running from Walker, Osborne, Crompton & White pushed Butts up to their own line with 5 minutes remaining. Richard Mayson darted over for a try, which Osborne narrowly failed to convert. The last 5 minutes saw Butts deny Hereford the ball and any chance of getting it out to the backs. Final Score 15- 23.

Hereford’s players were disappointed with the result. Chairman Guy Griffiths said “Des White has made a big improvement to the players morale but we just did not give him enough ball. If you’re going to collapse a maul do it in their half before they get the momentum going and before it’s within kicking distance. Once the tactics became obvious you have to act accordingly.”

Next week Hereford take on Aston Old Edwardians in a re arranged league fixture sponsored by AD Bonelle & Co.