Thompson and Rees star as Wyesiders win thriller (From Hereford Times)

Thompson and Rees star as Wyesiders win thriller

11:00am Friday 19th March 2010 in

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Hereford 27 pts Longton 26.

HEREFORD showed plenty of character and no little skill to overturn a half-time deficit against the National 3 Midlands play-off hopefuls.

The Wyesiders got off to a great start with an early try but trailed 19-7 after just 20 minutes before battling their way back into the game.

Their young team’s impressive rally was based upon the strong running and power of flanker Guy Thompson and the almost-faultless boot of Richard Rees.

Thompson forged through the midfield on a number of occasions before being intercepted by desperate challenges, gaining vital ground which the home side was able to build upon.

Rees converted all three of Hereford’s tries as well as kicking two penalties, the second of which, from the Longton 10-metre line, proved the decisive score six minutes from the end.

“We have a really young talented player base with some players who have come through from the third team,” said Hereford’s director of coaching Steve Bradley.

“We were very lucky to get Guy. He is a local boy who played for the North of England and he is a very talented footballer.

“Richard has been playing in the second-team for the last two or three years but now he has come through and stepped up to the plate.

“His kicking was faultless today.”

In an entertaining game, Hereford took the lead after just three minutes when hooker Gareth Miles came up with the score after a pushover try. Rees converted.

But Longton levelled two minutes later through Scott Rawlings after some fine handling down the right.

Two more tries followed for the visitors, from Gareth Rawlings and Kieran Hawley. Scott Rawlings converted two of the three scores.

But, following each Longton score, Hereford got into promising positions only for unforced errors to halt their progress.

Rees also should have cut arrears with a kickable penalty which he dragged wide of the posts for his only failure of the day.

Hereford’s luck changed, however, three minutes before the turnaround.

Longton’s defence hesitated as Hereford pumped the ball forward from midfield and the ball took a wicked bounce, enabling Simon Sabel to gather and race over.

Rees kicked the conversion and then added a penalty after a typically powerful burst by Thompson had brought the Wyesiders within range.

A yellow card for Miles early in the second half allowed Longton to profit from Hereford’s reduced numbers and a James Staley try, converted by Scott Rawlings, saw the visitors re-establish a nine-point advantage at 26-17.

But the Wyesiders were far from finished and a brilliant 40-yard break by Gary Preece, followed by some swift handling, sent Kieram Hallam over in the corner.

The score was superbly converted by Rees whose penalty in the 77th minute nosed Hereford in front again.

The home side then tackled ferociously in the face of some heavy Longton pressure to hold on to their win.

“We are really pleased with the win,” said Bradley. “Longton are a good side with big forwards producing some powerful running.

“They kept driving at us and we tackled our hearts out, particularly in the second-half, and in the last 10 minutes we dug deep.

“The side has belief. By and large it is young, they believe in themselves and the confidence is growing week by week.”