Hereford 20 pts Stafford 15

HEREFORD achieved an important win, just their second of the season in Powergen Midlands 2 West, against fellow-strugglers Stafford.

The young Wyesiders, who were forced into a couple of team changes through injury, started well and a rolling maul created space for Matthew Pritchard to feed to the backs and the winger then got on the end of the pass to race over in the corner.

Jeremy Grisman just failed with the conversion.

The big, strong Stafford side used the wind well and hit back with a penalty, awarded when Hereford were pulled up for not releasing a man in the tackle, and David Mottershead kicked the points.

Hereford, however, continued to pile the pressure on Stafford and fine work from Richard Preece never allowed the visitors to settle. Although Hereford were unable to break down the Stafford defence, the city side succeeded in extending their lead when they were awarded a penalty for offside.

Grisman slotted over the kick to give Hereford an 8-3 lead at the turnaround.

With Ben Stephens replacing Gary Preece at half-time, allowing Grisman to move to the fly-half spot, Hereford's backs came more into the game with a series of penetrating runs.

The home side were in the ascendancy and it was not long before Ben Jenkins released Will McQuaid and he, in turn, released prop Ben Hillstead who raced 20 yards to cross in the corner.

Grisman again just failed with the kick, but Hereford then had the confidence to push forward in a bid to settle the match.

Good defence from Jimmy Crompton allowed Jenkins to find McQuaid and he slipped the ball to Stephens who cut in to score under the posts. Grisman added the extra points.

With the outcome apparently resolved, Hereford relaxed and Stafford number eight Carter went over for a try in the corner.

Then, with time running out, Carter went over again, this time under the posts and Mottershead converted to reduce the margin to five points.

Despite the late scare, Hereford held on for a win which kept them within reach of the mid-table sides.

"It was a very good performance," said coach John Watkins. "If we had lost today it might well have been all over, but now we have all of the clubs in the bottom half of the table to play at home and we have identified seven games that we can win."

l Other results - Hereford Under-14 43 pts Stourbridge 19 - tries from Jack Hodges (3), Ollie Frost (2) and Sebastian Robinson.

Evesham U7/8 30 Hereford 40 - tries from Oliver Wayne (2), Jojo Pye (2), Tom Bashar (2), Sam Westcott and Max Pye.

Evesham U12 0 Hereford 35 - tries by Graham Trahern, David Hobby, George Marsden, Drew Cheshire, Harry Morgan, Olly Davies and Charlie Davies.