Hereford beat major rivals to clinch title with game to spare

11:15am Thursday 5th April 2007

Old Laurentians 13 pts Hereford 50 HEREFORD became Mid-lands 3 West (South) champions when they took on their major rivals for the crown and turned on the style, winning by a try count of seven to one with some dazzling, running rugby.

When the Wyesiders were relegated three seasons ago and lost the majority of their first team squad due to players retiring or moving on, the club set about rebuilding a new squad of players to regain their status.

After finishing third and then second in their first two seasons, Saturday was a very rewarding day for coaches Mike Stubbs and John Watkins, who watched with pride as their talented young squad regained their Midlands 2 place with a superb performance in their penultimate fixture.

Facing a stiff breeze in the first half, Hereford went behind through a drop goal during the Old Boys' first attack. Playing with confidence after a winning run stretching back to November, the visitors hit back with two Jeremy Grisman tries, both converted by Dean Powell.

For the first, Grisman gained possession after good work by the forwards and showed some neat footwork and balance to beat the home defence.

For the second, he demonstrated good anticipation, intercepting the ball when the home team were running out of defence.

The sides traded penalties to leave the score 17-6 in Hereford's favour.

After defending for a while, Hereford extended their lead with an unconverted try, Harry Jenkins running a good angle and barging over after sustained forward play had created the chance.

Laurentians reduced the deficit to 22-13 at the break when they ran in a converted try from 65 yards after Andy Johnson had made a break but got isolated.

With the wind at their backs, Hereford controlled the second-half, rarely allowing the home side a sight of their try-line. They added four more tries without reply and, with Powell converting all of them, reached the half-century mark.

Sean Day used his side foot and pace to score the first two, the first after Darren David had won good ball at the lineout. For the second, he was presented with the chance when Ceiron Griffiths broke free. Griffiths scored the next himself after taking a neat flicked reverse pass from Powell which put the home defence off balance.

The final score was down to the unsung heroes in the pack, Matt Pritchard diving over after the forwards had inched towards the line with several drives.

Coach Watkins said: "It is a wonderful day for the young side who have stepped up to the task with distinction."

He also paid tribute to the whole squad who have taken their place in the side when required to maintain a run which has seen them lose just two games, one of them the first of the campaign.

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