Hereford's Guy Thompson scores try double in bonus-point victory (From Hereford Times)

Hereford's Guy Thompson scores try double in bonus-point victory

8:00am Tuesday 2nd March 2010 in

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Hereford 24 pts Kenilworth 7 HEREFORD established a first-half lead and ran in three more tries after the turnaround to earn a bonus-point National 3 Midlands win over fellow mid-table opponents at Wyeside.

Hereford quickly put the previous weekend’s disappointing performance at Hinckley behind them and came close to taking an early lead. Ben Probert charged down an attempted Kenilworth clearance but just lost out in the race for the touchdown.

The Wyesiders held the upper hand but had to wait until the 18th minute before turning their superiority into points. Guy Thompson intercepted a loose Kenilworth pass on halfway and galloped over for the opening try which Dean Powell converted.

Ill-discipline cost Hereford the chance to extend their lead during the second quarter. A number of promising moves were halted by the referee’s whistle and, from one offence, Ben Hillstead was yellowcarded for pulling a maul down.

Kenilworth created few chances in the first half but did miss a good chance to reduce the deficit when Russell Clarke failed with a penalty-kick just before the break.

▲ Guy Thompson scored two tries in Hereford’s victory.

Hereford turned around 7-0 up.

After a bout of slick handling, Richard Rees touched down wide out to give the Wyesiders a flying start to the second half.

Well in control of the game at this point, Hereford introduced the fresh legs of Colin Osborne and Jamie Bullock and went on to establish a winning position.

Skipper Matt Pritchard turned down a kickable penalty opportunity soon after and opted to take a scrum instead. From the set-piece Hereford drove the ball over the Kenilworth line and Pritchard touched down.

The home side kept the momentum up and, from another smooth attack, Thompson went in for his second try of the game. Powell converted it to stretch the lead to 24- 0.

Hereford took their foot off the gas and Kenilworth scored a consolation try which was converted.

❑ Hereford Rugby Club forward Richard Preece is vowing to return to action next season.

Preece will be out for the rest of this campaign after picking up a back injury at Hinckley.

“I have fractured one of the vertebrae in my lower back but I have not done any damage to the spinal column or any significant damage to any of the discs,” he said.

“I just need to rest it for a few weeks and I will not play rugby again this season. I will hopefully be back for next season,”

he said.

● Luctonians’ game at Ampthill was called off because the league-leaders'

pitch was unfit for play.