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HEREFORD  27 - 7  SHIPSTON-ON-STOUR

Wyeside, Saturday 4 September 2004

Powergen Midlands 3 West (South) League
 
Hereford opened their campaign in a workmanlike fashion and for the first 20 minutes didn’t allow Shipston to have the ball very often or progress into the home side's half. However Hereford lost their way in the middle part of the game and failed to win their line out ball or indeed control their own scrumage ball, during the middle part of the game. However, they came back strongly in the last quarter to settle the encounter quite comfortably.

Shipston didn’t have a lot to offer apart from plenty of spirit and were constantly disrupting the Hereford flow of ball. From a spectator point of view the game was a little disjointed, particularly in the first half when Hereford were awarded over thirty penalties. Perhaps if the referee had acted early on the game to produce yellow cards the scores would have come earlier and some flowing rugby would have developed.

After only 5 minutes Sam Walker, back from Australia set up a weaving run followed by quick ball out to Giles Scott who created the opening for Jackie White to score in the corner. Gary Preece just fell short with the conversion. Hereford continued to press and were awarded a penalty which Preece converted to make it 8-0. Further pressure resulted in another penalty, which Preece duly despatched after 25 minutes.

After half an hour and Shipston’s first venture into the Hereford half, a speculative kick bounced the wrong way for the defence and Shipston were awarded a penalty try for obstruction after the chase. After this the home side lost a bit of confidence, tried too hard and continued to choose the difficult option instead of simply passing the ball to the wings.

The second half started with three penalty awards to Hereford inside 10 minutes, which allowed Preece to take the score to 20-7. White galloped over, but the pass from Wayne Davies was adjudged forward.

Late in the game the referee yellow carded two Shipston players in quick succession for persistent offences. Cieran Griffiths then created space for Giles Scott to score his first try for Hereford. Preece converted to end the game at 27-7.

Andy Johnson and Andrew Barnet were the pick of the forwards with Simon Lewis winning more than his fair share of loose ball. In the backs Gary Preece coped quite well at full back and Giles Scott had an impressive debut.
 

All photographs reproduced with kind permission from the photographer, Andy Compton of the Hereford Journal
 

  

Gary Preece makes a break with Sam Walker waiting for the pass

  

An unsteady Andy Johnson going for the ball on the oppositions line out
     
 

  

Captain Wilf Rees held up in the tackle

  

Gary Preece attempting the first conversion
     
 

  

Fly half Jeremy Grisman shovelling the ball out to his backs to launch another attack

  

Captain Wilf Rees making another break