HEREFORD  29 - 20  EARLSDON

Wyeside, Saturday 29 October 2005

Powergen Midlands 3 West (South)

Hereford elected to play against a stiff wind at Wyeside, but this did not deter the hosts who immediately went on the offensive to put Earlsdon under early pressure. The visitors killed the ball near their own line but winger Colin Osborne failed to capitalise when he missed the resulting short-range penalty. Almost immediately play moved to the other end and, when Hereford transgressed, the visitors converted a penalty to open the scoring.

Hereford continued to run the ball at every opportunity and bounced back to take the lead with a superb try, starting from well inside their own half. After several phases of play had stretched the visiting defence the ball was moved swiftly along the line for left-wing Giles Scott to touch down in the corner for an unconverted score. Osborne landed a penalty to extend the home lead, but Earlsdon came back and closed the deficit to two points with a second penalty before half-time.

Although Osborne converted a second penalty for Hereford, the visitors hit back to regain the lead against the run of play. A winger chased a speculative kick ahead and, although outnumbered by four defenders and aided by a couple of fortuitous bounces, was somewhat surprised to be awarded a penalty try for being held back. Earlsdon added the conversion to move two points clear but this was short-lived as Hereford hit back with two fine tries, punctuated by a third Osborne penalty.

Another flowing move saw Osborne cut inside the last defender to go under the posts, the winger adding the extra points before the try of the match followed from full-back Gary Preece. Starting well inside the Hereford half, the ball went through several phases of play involving both forwards and backs and, with the Earlsdon defence in tatters, lock Jamie Bullock went down the blindside before slipping a pass to the supporting Preece who crossed in the corner for the unconverted try.

Hereford used all their substitutes, but a couple of late injuries reduced them to just 13 players, Earlsdon taking advantage to cross for a late consolation try.

Match Photos with thanks to Frank Dulles