HEREFORD remain on the coat-tails of the top six in Midlands One West following a narrow win at Crewe & Nantwich.

Despite the Wyesiders being depleted by illness and injury, they came away from Cheshire with a 23-21 win - their second double of the season.

Dean Powell helped them on their way with a tenth minute penalty goal and they retained that lead throughout the game, securing the points when Powell sank a penalty deep into injury time.

The city side showed their intentions right from the off with the back three of Will Ford, Mark Philo and Leon Parsons all combining well to maintain pressure on the home defence.

After Powell's opening penalty, the Wyesiders then registered a try when a slick passing move saw the ball moved left then right, with Tom Ewins making ground

on the right before offloading to Will Ford who eluded the defence to touch down in the corner.

Powell wasn't successful with the conversion and Crewe & Nantwich soon reduced the deficit with a penalty before two more Powell penalties took the Hereford lead to 11 points.

Just before half-time, a Hereford offence at the breakdown allowed the home side to find touch inside the Hereford half. From the lineout a determined run, assisted by some weak tackling, enabled the home team to reduce the deficit with an unconverted try, meaning Hereford led 14-10 at the break.

In the second half, Crewe & Nantwich created more pressure through their strong running backs. A further home penalty goal, sandwiched between two more for Hereford from Powell, took the Hereford lead to 7 points before an unconverted Crewe try brought them to within two points of their opponents.

Then, with time running out, Hereford offended at a breakdown inside the home 22, and the home kicker made no mistake to give his team the lead for the first time.

But Hereford then piled the pressure on the home side and forced a penalty five minutes into injury time which Powell confidently slotted away.

Coach Bob Stewart said afterwards: "Our mistakes kept Crewe & Nantwich in the game but the whole of our much-changed team played well and I was proud of the way they stepped up to the challenge and came through for each other."