The Hereford Times

Grisman’s tries help Wyesiders win at Finstall Park to secure play-off spot

5:03pm Friday 25th April 2008

Bromsgrove 10 pts Hereford 17.

HEREFORD booked their place in the promotion play-offs with a hard-fought win at Finstall Park in their final Midlands 2 West match of the season.

The Wyesiders looked nervous at times but defended strongly, particularly in the second-half, to clinch the runners-up spot.

Two first-half tries from Billy Grisman put Hereford in control and winger Adam Gwynne struck 80 seconds into the second half to give the visitors breathing space.

But Hereford were hamstrung in the second period after flanker Ali McColl and then Gwynne were yellow carded by Oxfordshire referee Anthony Swift.

Bromsgrove made sure of a tight finish when they were awarded a penalty try, which was converted, two minutes into stoppage-time.

The visitors, however, held on for the vital win and there were muted celebrations at the final whistle after news of Malvern’s title-clinching win filtered through.

Had Malvern lost to Solihull, Hereford would have won the title and been promoted automatically.

But Hereford finished one point behind champions Malvern and will now host Division 2 East runners-up Hinckley on Saturday, for a place in Midlands 1.

The Wyesiders will have home advantage for the match by virtue of achieving a better points’ difference than Hickley in their respective league programmes.

Hereford had romped to a 61-0 win over Bromsgrove in the first league meeting between the clubs at Wyeside in November.

But Saturday’s clash was a different affair with Bromsgrove having won six and lost just two of their previous nine league matches.

Hereford made an edgy start and were pinned inside their own half for the first six minutes.

The Wyesiders struggled in the line-out early-on and Bromsgrove’s pressure paid off in the sixth minute when they were awarded a close-range penalty and Duncan Roke kicked the three points.

The home side continued to attack and, in the 10th minute, a neat chip ahead from Sam Lofthouse just drifted beyond the Hereford dead-ball line.

Gwynne came to Hereford’s rescue in the 17th minute when he caught Roke’s high cross-field kick on his own try-line before making a safe clearance to touch.

Hereford suddenly burst into life in the 24th minute after a quick break through the midfield from Rob Collins.

However, with a three-man overlap in Hereford’s favour, a Bromsgrove player knocked on Collins’ attempted pass and the visitors were awarded a penalty.

Jeremy Grisman scuffed his penalty attempt but Hereford grew in confidence and took the lead through Billy Grisman’s unconverted try in the 31st minute.

A chip ahead from Collins was taken over the Bromsgrove line by a home player who conceded a five-metre scrum.

After a strong forward drive, Andrew Johnson was stopped just short of the Bromsgrove line but there was no stopping Grisman who crashed over in the right-hand corner.

Hereford extended their advantage four minutes later with an outstanding, flowing try which stemmed from Richard Preece’s darting run through midfield.

Kieran Hallam was among four Hereford players involved in the move and Preece delivered the pass for Billy Grisman to touch down between the posts.

Jeremy Grisman added the simple conversion to put the visitors 12-3 ahead at the interval and Hereford sailed into a 14-point advantage soon after the re-start.

A pass from Collins sent Sean Day surging into space and he drew the Bromsgrove full-back Ben Copson before off-loading the ball to winger Gwynne who raced away to score in the right-hand corner.

Bromsgrove hit back and, after McColl was yellow carded in the 48th minute, it needed strong defence to keep out the home side.

Powerhouse Number 8 Nigel Burrows pounded the Hereford line and looked certain to score on at least one occasion.

But superb defending by Jamie Bullock, Ben Probert and Ben Hillstead prevented the Bromsgrove forward from crashing over.

Hereford then had an unlikely reprieve in the 53rd minute when a passing move sliced open their defence but Roke dropped the ball when he was over the try-line.

Dan Thomas replaced two-try Billy Grisman, who picked up a knock, and Bromsgrove continued to attack.

Strong defending from Hereford once again stopped Burrows from scoring before Grisman failed with a long-range penalty attempt in the 72nd minute.

Gwynne was yellow-carded for an infringement in the 78th minute as Bromsgrove continued to pressurise the Hereford line.

The home side’s attacking persistence paid off in the 82nd minute when they were awarded a penalty try after Kevin Foster was tackled before he had received the ball.

Roke added the extra points and it set up an anxious few minutes for Hereford before the referee blew up for full-time.