JAMES Stubbs scored a hat-trick as Hereford ran out 24-21 victors over neighbours Worcester.

The Hereford fly-half scored 19 of their points and wrapped up the bonus point victory with the only try of a tight second half.

Head Coach Sean Lynn was delighted with the victory, he said: "It was great result, we always knew that coming to Worcester today would be a tough task.

"They have already played the top teams in the league and had some narrow losses.

"To come away from a local derby with a bonus point win is brilliant, for 68 minutes it was touch and go, either team could have won.

"For me, the star man today was James Stubbs, he scored 19 points and the last try was just individual class, it was that try that got us the bonus point.

"The forwards battled on well, the backs threw the ball about and Connor Sullivan came in at the last moment and did a great job at scrum half.

"It is all about the strength in depth we are developing. We are in a good place and are enjoying it.”

Worcester drove over for a seventh minute converted try to take an early lead.

However, just three minutes later Hereford replied with a try from Stubbs after winning a succession of lineouts in the Worcester half.

The Hereford backs were in good form and a series of handling movements ended with Stubbs cutting back against the grain for his second try, which he improved himself.

Both teams entertained the crowd with some good open running football and in a ten-minute spell Worcester registered two further unconverted tries to put them 21-12 ahead.

Hereford responded before half-time when Leon Parsons broke away, raced thirty-five yards and avoided the cover defence to score in the corner as Worcester led 21-17 at the break.

The second half started with both sides persisting in running the ball and for nearly thirty minutes defences remained on top.

That was until the 68th minute when Ewan Duncan played through Stubbs who ghosted through the defence for his hat-trick and the Wyesiders’ bonus point try.

For the next 20 minutes Worcester threw everything into trying to regain a lead, but the visitors stood firm to seal victory.