HEREFORD RFC were left regretting early mistakes as Newbold scored two quick tries which gave the Wyesiders a hill too big to climb.

The visitors were forced to make several changes to the team originally selected, but the replacements all made useful contributions.

Had the Wyesiders not made their, by now expected poor start, conceding two tries within ten minutes of kick-off, the result might have been different.

Both of the Newbold opening tries came as a direct result of poorly judged kicks ahead being run back into Hereford territory.

Hereford regrouped and despite an early injury to prop, Matt Frost, they managed to get onto the scoreboard with an unconverted Gareth Jones try.

Newbold registered a third try just before the interval. In the second half, play was end to end and Hereford came close to adding to their score on several occasions.

However, a fourth Newbold try, scored whilst Hereford had a man in the sin bin, gave them a try bonus and took the final score to 26-5.

“This was not the result that we hoped for,” said coach Luke Fisher, “but the boys showed great character especially, during the last twenty minutes.

"During the first quarter we were defensively poor, allowing Newbold to run at us and put us under pressure.

"If you go down a couple of tries early on, to a good team like Newbold, it puts you under pressure and it took us 20 minutes to get into the game.

"We were then able to turn it round and put pressure on them, allowing us to attack with a bit of pace and flair and earning ourselves the right to go wide and to get onto the scoresheet.

"The second half was tight and both teams tired in a very physical game. Our defensive performance was good, Gareth Jones was outstanding, he was everywhere, putting Newbold on the back foot and it was good to see Mark Philo back, adding flair in attack. "Looking forward, we have to stop putting pressure on ourselves by playing so much rugby in our own 22.

"We need to put pressure on our opponents in their own half. We shall stay together strongly as a team and look forward to a good battle with Old Halesonians, next week at Wyeside.”