HEREFORD Head Coach Marc Richards isn't prepared to risk players at this stage of pre-season if they've got knocks.

His side were comfortable 4-0 winners against fellow Herefordshire side Wellington on Saturday, with new signing Reece Styche breaking the deadlock after 31 minutes from the penalty spot.

Rowan Liburd, who joined the Bulls towards the end of last season, added two goals to the tally at the start of the second half, before a trialist scored the fourth 11 minutes from time.

"Reece Styche has taken the penalty off Tom Owen-Evans, he's said look, you get off the mark," Richards said.

"Fair play to let Styche take that, obviously Tom is our usual penalty taker.

"Rowan Liburd second half with a couple of goals and then young Liam getting a great finish as well. I'm pleased."

Hereford named two teams, one for each half, which gave most players a good opportunity to blow away the close-season cobwebs.

"For them to all get 45 minutes today was great and that leads us into Monday as well," Richards added.

"Over the next two or three weeks we can gradually build that up.

"It's important we get through unscathed as well so hopefully not too many knocks, niggles or injuries from today as well. The more we can get them on the training pitch, the more we can get them playing in those pre-season games and the better condition they will be in come August 3."

New signing Tom Pope, who arrived from Weston-Super-Mare with team-mate Jacob Jagger Cane, was absent, as was Mike Symons who has agreed to stay at Edgar Street.

There was one face most Bulls fans were pleased to see, which was Keyon Reffell. He played in the first half after spending much of last season sidelined with injury.

"You've got Popey who's just felt his groin towards the end of the session about a week ago, so it's just precautionary.

Symo rolled his ankle, but you saw him running today so there's no point risking them at this stage if they've got knocks."

Hereford are next in action when they travel to Cinderford on Monday evening, before a weekend away in north Devon where they will face Bideford and Yeovil.