HEREFORD  13 - 24  NEWBOLD

Wyeside, Saturday 17 April 2004, 3:00pm

Powergen Midlands 2 West League

The Wyesiders were in contention, just a point adrift, until five minutes from the end when the visitors pulled away to win.

With the wind behind them in the first period, Hereford went ahead with a penalty from Jeremy Grisman but Newbold hit back from their only two attacks of the half to claim two converted tries. Another Grisman penalty cut the margin to 14-6 at the interval.

Hereford, who once again fielded a weakened side after first-choice players dropped out, piled on the pressure at the start of the second half and were rewarded by a fine individual try by Grisman who spotted a gap in the Newbold defence and swept through to score.

Grisman's successful conversion cut Newbold's lead to a single point and Hereford pressure in the closing stages looked like paying off until five minutes from time when a contentious refereeing decision allowed the visitors to extend the margin with a penalty.

Hereford heads dropped and Newbold took full advantage with an excellently-worked try under the posts which they converted to complete the scoring.

Club chairman Guy Griffiths is confident that his side can bounce back after relegation which is likely to see them lining up against county rivals Ledbury in Midlands Division 3 West (South) next season.

"The structure is in place and we have a very strong and successful junior section", said Griffiths.

"This is a chance for the club to regroup with the good crop of home-grown youngsters that have come from the junior ranks," he added.

Sam Walker, Ben Adams and Matthew Pritchard will spend the summer playing club rugby in Canberra, Australia, and will miss the start of next season, while promising young full-back Colin Osborne has joined the Army.