Whitchurch 27 pts Hereford 29

A LAST-minute try from Leon Yeboah-Parsons helped Hereford into the semi-finals of the North Midlands Cup.

The late score was the culmination of an excellent recovery by the Wyesiders who had trailed by 12 points in the early stages and still by eight points by 20 minutes to play.

The fightback delighted coach Bob Stewart who summed up his squad in three words.

"Character, confidence and self-belief," he said.

Whitchurch took the lead with a converted try after just two minutes and added a second score before Hereford had breached the home 22.

But the Wyesiders were back in the game with a determined run from half-way and score by James Watters.

Lloyd Collier added the extras but a penalty and further unconverted try took the Whitchurch tally to 20 points with 10 minutes of the first period still remaining.

Hereford's back were continuing to play a handling game and capitalised when Collier cut through the defence for a try which he converted himself, leaving Hereford 20-14 adrift at the interval.

The visitors began the second half in promising style and Colllier fed Elliot Williams to mark his first-team debut by crashing over in the corner.

Whitchurch were far from finished, however, and a further try re-established their control at 27-19.

Hereford threw everything into the attack and Watters picked up a loose ball to dive over for a try, which Collier was unable to convert.

From the re-start, Tom Ewins was halted just short of the line and Richard Mayson ran the clearing kick back before feeding Yeboah-Parsons who outflanked the defence to go over for the decisive score.

Veteran prop Dave Thomas was named man of the match as Hereford's mixture of youth and experience celebrated their thrilling victory.