HEREFORD  10 - 42  BROMSGROVE

Wyeside, Saturday 13 March 2004, 2:30pm

Powergen Midlands 2 West League

The big visiting forwards immediately showed their strength to dominate possession, supplying good, swift ball to their backs and, when they chose, to make ground with powerful forward drives.

Hereford were forced to concede a couple of early penalties and Bromsgrove fly-half Birch made them pay with two successful kicks.

Home winger Des White was yellow-carded for a high tackle and the visitors immediately took advantage to run in a try through their centre Maylin, Birch adding the extra points.

Hereford responded with some skilful play and determined running from Dave Thomas, White, Danny Nightingale and Colin Osborne, forcing Bromsgrove back to their own line.

However the visitors showed their class when centre Wilkinson brushed through some indecisive tackling to score, and flanker Clarke crashed over for a third try after a sustained forward drive, Birch converting the former to open up a 25-point lead.

A determined Hereford raised their game and good work by forwards Phil Jones, Ben Priday and Gary Preece provided swift ball for backs Richard Mayson and Osborne to release White, who showed blistering pace in a scintillating run to score an unconverted corner try.

Bromsgrove responded with another swift attack just before the break when Clarke touched down for his second try, Birch adding the conversion.

After the interval Hereford lifted their game and in a period of enterprising rugby pinned Bromsgrove in their own 22-metre area. Sam Walker looked certain to score when he chipped over the last line of defence only to be blocked, a similar situation that saw White sin-binned in the opening minutes.

Hereford missed the subsequent penalty kick and were rocked back when Birch stole over for the visitors against the run of play.

From the kick-off Hereford won the ball and moved it quickly for White to race in for his second unconverted try.

The home revival was cut short and Bromsgrove broke away to complete victory with a final try through winger Stockholm, again converted by Birch.