Hereford 22 pts Bedworth 8

HEREFORD earned a welcome boost when they overcame stubborn resistance to complete a double over Powergen Midlands 2 West bottom club Bedworth and record their third win of the season.

They Wyesiders had won 37-3 at Bedworth in October but, in sticky conditions, the return was always going to be a battle between the big Bedworth pack and the lighter, but more mobile, home eight.

The home backs gave notice of their potential with a fifth-minute try after Hereford's pack took good lineout ball and made a series of dynamic drives down the field to suck in some of the Bedworth midfield cover before releasing the ball to the three-quarters.

Swift passing gave right-wing Des White a little bit of space and he beat his opposite number and the full-back to race over in the corner and round to touch-down under the posts. Full-back Colin Osborne added the conversion.

Bedworth hit back when their powerful pack put Hereford under sustained pressure and eventually forced them to concede a penalty.

Then came an excellent passage of play which ended with a contender for club try of the season.

Winger White made a strong run down the right and, when he was stopped, the Hereford pack arrived in numbers to continue the drive. With the Bedworth defence at sixes and sevens Hereford recycled the ball and it passed swiftly through several pairs of hands for left-winger Sam Walker to sprint in for a superb try.

Osborne missed the wide-angled conversion but just before the break landed a penalty to open up a 12-point lead.

Bedworth lifted their game in the second half and their big pack took over, keeping the ball tight and trying to take the steam out of the home forwards.

Hereford defended well but the sustained pressure paid off with the Bedworth number eight picking up at the back of a five-metre scrum to force his way over for an unconverted try.

More determined tackling kept Bedworth out and in a spirited last quarter Hereford hit back to seal victory with a try from Australian centre Jimmy Crompton, with Osborne again obliging with the conversion.