Hereford 15 pts Lichfield 24

RUNAWAY Midlands One West leaders Lichfield finally claimed Hereford's unbeaten home record.

But the Wyesiders had plenty to be positive about despite the reverse.

" We have the best backline in the league," said coach Mark Harris.

"If we had parity in the set pieces we would have cut them apart.

"It's only going to get better, the forwards are young and light but are getting stronger all the time."

In a most entertaining game featuring some exhilarating open rugby from both sides, Lichfield opened the scoring when their bigger pack pushed over the line for a converted try.

As the half came to an end, Hereford came close to scoring when Ali McColl won a lineout, the ball was moved wide from Dean Powell, carried on by Chris Allman and Perry Pudge, but were halted with a turnover close to the Lichfield line.

At the start of the second period, Morgan Goodall landed a penalty to reduce the deficit but Lichfield pulled away again with an unconverted try.

Thirteen minutes into the half, Hereford won a lineout on half-way and the ball was moved slickly between Sean Day and Nat Thomas to set up Morgan Goodall who crashed over for the first Hereford try, which he converted himself.

Hereford were in control at this point but Lichfield capitalised on a bit of good fortune when the ball squirted out from a scrum and was picked up by a Lichfield player, who ran the length of the field to register a converted try.

Hereford responded when a good lineout take by skipper Ali McColl was driven 25 yards by the Hereford pack for Jamie Bullock, under a pile of bodies, to touch down for the second Hereford try.

The Wyesiders continued to attack but the visitors closed out the win when their well drilled backs moved the ball wide and crossed for the bonus point try.

"We definitely deserved a losing bonus and now we must keep the standards high and win every game that's left, starting on Saturday at Malvern,” said Harris.