SELBY  21 - 13  HEREFORD

Selby, Saturday 27 November 2004

Powergen Intermediate Cup Round 4 North/Midland

The young Hereford side, missing the experience of their captain Wilf Rees who was attending a family wedding, took the lead after 15 minutes when Will Bolt kicked a penalty.

The home side were back on terms four minutes later, however, when 18-year-old winger Daniel Porter, who had earlier missed two kicks, landed his third penalty attempt of the game.

This equalising score led to Hereford's best passage of the match as, from the restart from a good drop-kick by Jeremy Grisman, the visitors mounted a solid period of pressure and remained in the Selby half for seven minutes.

This was finally rewarded when a good drive from Steve Bentley and a quick pass from captain-for-the-day Ben Jenkins fed Ceiron Griffiths to cross for the first try of the day. Bolt added the conversion to make the score 10-3.

The sides then exchanged penalties through Bolt and Porter for a 13-6 half-time scoreline.

Porter kicked a further penalty at the start of the second period and, with Gareth Griffiths yellow-carded, Selby took advantage to cross for their first try through Jamie Pollen. A second try quickly followed from wing Martin Prothero and Porter added the conversion.

Gareth Griffiths' return sparked a Hereford revival which saw them camped on the Selby line. An injury to Griffiths prompted his replacement by Harry Jenkins, however, and a second Hereford yellow card, for Ali McCall, did not help matters.

The visitors were not discouraged but, although they pressed strongly for the remainder of the match, they were unable to break down the Selby defence again.

Hereford will hope that the return of Rees and continued commitment from the players, starting with this weekend's county derby with Ledbury, will see them begin to climb the Midlands 3 West (South) table.