HEREFORD Roller Girls' first open game of the year ended n defeat despite a stirring second half comeback.

The city side went down 199-128 to Gloucestershire's Severn Roller Torrent, with team captain Nikki Gray saying she was proud of the way Hereford competed.

"This year we have been focusing on rebuilding our team, and training hard to be able to host our first open bout of 2016," she said.

"Considering for a lot of our skaters this was their first open bout too, I am so proud of how we played.

"The amazing SRT offence threw us slightly during the first half, but we came back fighting in the second half with some great blocking and a few power jams in our favour, which increased our point difference considerably."

SRT dominated the first half and, despite Hereford clawing back some points through scoring jams, they were 130 - 41 down at half time.

The second period took an incredible turn in fortune for the Horror Bulls, though, with their attack and defence working well.

The game was preceded by Hereford's first ever junior roller derby event featuring skaters from the Hereford Poison Berries, Sheffield Steel Junior Rollers, Devon All Star Hitters and Eastbourne New Bournes Junior Roller Derby.

Skaters from the four junior teams split themselves into the Poison Fruits and the Bitter Berries for their game, titled The Hereford Smoothie.