HEREFORD  24 - 0  ASTON OLD EDWARDIANS

Wyeside, Sunday 20 March 2005

North Midlands Cup

After only ten minutes Hereford lost influential fly half Tim Harvey with a nasty gash to the head, which needed immediate hospital treatment. The referee awarded a penalty against the offending Aston second row for a short arm tackle on the floor but, despite the injury, saw fit to take no further action. Hereford reshuffled their line with Jeremy Grisman moving to fly half and Ben Jenkins coming on to partner Kieran Griffiths, who had a fine game, in the centre. Hereford continued to probe the Aston defence and a couple of useful runs from Des White almost broke down the defence. White was then sinned binned for a late tackle and shortly afterwards the referee sin binned the same Aston lock for another short arm tackle.

Hereford forwards continued to size up the opposition and front row members Ben Priday, Wayne Davies and Dave Thomas gave a solid base for the Hereford back row and back division to launch their attacks. Ben Priday had another outstanding game with several storming runs throughout the game.

The second half started with the score at 0-0 and better fitness and determination meant that Hereford kept the visitors away from their line. After 10 minutes Dave Thomas came off for a well deserved rest and Louis Fairbrother came on as hooker. Hereford had a driving forward run from the half way line with ground being made by Ben Collier, Matthew Pritchard, Wayne Davies and Ben Priday before, virtually with his first touch of the ball, Fairbrother broke straight through the middle of the loose ruck to run 22 meters and touch down under the posts. Jeremy Grisman kicked the points and Hereford were well on their way.

After 20 minutes again the Hereford forwards drove the ball forward with Andy Johnson and Luke Clifford always in the thick of things and the backs opened up with Richard Mayson and White combining to put Adam Knight away. He beat the covering Aston to score in the corner. 12-0.

John Watkins then brought off the outstanding Ben Collier and Andy Johnson for a well deserved rest, with Ali McCall and Gary Preece replacing them.

Aston came back but it was always the Hereford backs who looked dangerous with Luke Clifford putting the defence under pressure. The ball was secured and a clever break from Griffiths put Mayson away to score another. Grisman made no mistake with the conversion to put Hereford into a 19-0 lead.

Hereford then had to contend with a ten minute spell without skipper Wilf Rees who was sin binned for offside, but held Aston back. The referee then sin binned the Aston flanker to even up the sides. From the last attack of the game Aston tried hard to score but a superb tackle from Matthew Pritchard on the Aston winger allowed Hereford to win the ball near to their own 22 where the ball was popped up to the athletic Richard Mayson who outpaced the Aston defence to score the final try.

Next week Hereford are away to Bridgnorth in the next round of the Cup.