HEREFORD Rugby Club have been making their final preparations ahead of their season starting this weekend.
The Wyesiders completed their pre-season schedule with a 34-12 win over local rivals Ledbury.
Before the game both teams lined up to respect a minute’s silence in memory of Ledbury club chairman Julian Cotton who died recently.
Hereford’s stronger forwards gave their side a territorial advantage throughout the game, but the well organised Ledbury defence restricted them to a single try in the first half.
Hereford put together some good attacking movements, but will need to be more clinical and watch that the inaccuracy of their last pass does not cost them dear in league games.
Ledbury, play their league games a level below Hereford, worked hard and Hereford found their defence difficult to break down until the last 20 minutes when they ran in three tries.
Ledbury suffered from a lack of good ball, but their lively backs scored a couple of good tries and will prove a handful to their opponents once the league season starts.
Hereford will have a strong pack again with Scott Robinson and Cal Duncan back from injury and the core of last season’s forwards returning.
Ollie Hutchinson made his presence felt against Ledbury with a couple of tries, while Jack Goodwin impressed, Lewis Jordan poached his customary try at the back of a driving maul and Connor Sullivan pinched a typical scrum half try from a ball overthrown by Ledbury in the lineout.
The Hereford backs had several key players missing and the return of Tom Ewins, Cal Brayshaw and Freddie Spencer will add talent and experience, not to mention Perry Pudge who will not be available until farming duties allow.
The Hereford coaching team have spent time with their squad honing skills and preparing for the first league encounters.
Hereford play Walsall away this Saturday (September 3) and Hereford 1870 entertain Worcester 2s at Wyeside
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