Hereford collect two points from defeat at Midlands One West leaders Lichfield (From Hereford Times)

Hereford collect two points from defeat at Midlands One West leaders Lichfield

11:30am Thursday 1st November 2012 in Sport

Lichfield 34 pts Hereford 29.

HEREFORD took unbeaten Midlands One West leaders Lichfield all the way before having to settle for two bonus points from a narrow but creditable defeat.

With a number of changes to the selected team and just one player on the bench, the Wyesiders looked to be up against it when Lichfield’s wing went over for an unconverted try in the corner after only six minutes.

Hereford’s response came three minutes later when skipper Jamie Bullock crashed over for the first Hereford try to level the scores.

Minutes later, Dan Lewis picked up a loose ball and broke through for a try to which Charlie Loughman added the extra points. Then, a determined Matt Hallett break down the wing enabled him to touch down in the corner, Loughman converting from a difficult angle.

After 20 minutes, a Lichfield drive led to a converted try under the posts but Hereford returned to the attack and, after 29 minutes, Loughman landed a penalty goal from just outside the Lichfield 22 to increase the visitors’ lead to 10 points.

Bullock was yellow-carded when a scrum on the Hereford line collapsed and Lichfield, who opted to re-take the scrum, were awarded a penalty try when the scrum collapsed again. The successful conversion left Hereford holding a narrow three-point interval advantage.

Lichfield regained the lead four minutes into the second period with an unconverted try and, after 66 minutes, a further unconverted try in the corner extended the advantage. But the Wyesiders were soon back on level terms when a break by outside-half Gary Preece fed Tom Ewins for the centre to drive over for a try under the posts. Loughman added the extras to take the score to 29-29. A push-over try gave the home side the lead again but the final whistle came with Hereford were still fighting for a result.

“Every one of the 16 players deserved a man-of-the-match award for their contribution to a fighting display,” said club spokesman Robin Davies. “In particular, the younger members of the team, Ollie Llewellyn, Alex Hickinbotham, James Parker and Lewis Jordan who all made valuable contributions. “Veterans Dave Thomas and Jamie Bullock led by example and the regulars who made the trip all played out of their skins.”

Cotham Park 0 pts Ross-on-Wye 26.

ROSS maintained their good recent form with a comfortable Gloucester 2 win in Bristol.

The visitors opened the scoring when Chay Brine delivered a well-timed pass to Craig Smith who outpaced the defence to score wide out.

Craig Powell added the conversion and repeated the trick shortly afterwards when Dan Field collected a Huw Bellamy pass to run in under the posts.

Ross continued to dominate and, before the turnaround, man-of-the-match Casey Morgan picked the ball up from the base of a scrum before jinking through the defence to score. Powell again added the extras to give a 21-0 half-time lead.

Ross had to defend well in the second period to ensure that the home side were unable to get on the score-board.

And it was the south Herefordshire club who rounded off the scoring when Brine went over for his second try late in the game.

l The Bishop of Hereford’s Bluecoat School’s under-15 rugby team have romped into the fourth round of the Daily Mail Cup after thrashing Malvern College 56-0.

The first-half was a tight affair, with the only points coming from a Toby Woods try, which was converted by Ethan Durber.

But Bishop’s then raced away from their opponents in the second period. Shaun Meredith crashed over the posts, with Durber again converting, before winger Ellis Ward scored a delightful try.

Durber then scored a try of his own, which he converted, but the best try came from Morgan Alexander, which resulted from some impressive passing moves. Bishop’s now face King’s School, Worcester, in the next round later this month.

l Greyhound’s development side, featuring a number of new and returning players, completed a solid Herefordshire and Worcestershire Merit League success with a 58-5 win over visiting Worcester Wanderers 4th.

Two of the newcomers, Pete Shutt and Alex Martin, scored late tries to round off the win.