HEREFORD RFC coach Alun Richards rued his side’s ill-discipline and making unforced errors as they were beaten 34-22 by Cheltenham.

The Wyesiders started quickly and built a 12-point lead within 10 minutes only for Cheltenham to reply and seal victory in the last moments.

“We played a really big physical Cheltenham team today and unfortunately came up a little short,” said Richards. “We talked all week about starting well and we did just that with good composure on the ball, executing our exits and controlling the game in the opening quarter.

“Our attitude and physicality were good, but our discipline let us down, which was a theme for most of the afternoon.”

Hereford made a great start and Jack Goodwin pounced on an overthrow at a lineout to cross the whitewash and Iwan Holder kicked the conversion. 

A Goodwin turnover from Cheltenham pressure enabled him to run the length of the field, brushing off defenders on the way to crash over for the second try. 

The conversion attempt was not successful. 

Cheltenham reduced the deficit with a brace of tries, both from driving mauls, in each case following penalties awarded against Hereford indiscipline. 

Neither try was improved so the Wyesiders were able to hang on to a two-point lead. 

Mark Philo scored a third try for Hereford hitting a line, running back against the grain to beat two defenders and score, Holder made the conversion.

Jake Cheshire was shown a yellow card, Hereford were on a warning and the referee awarded Cheltenham a penalty try after another piece of Hereford indiscipline. 

Holder slotted a penalty goal to take the Hereford lead to just five points, but a Cheltenham try from a driving maul equalised the interval score at 22-22.

Cheltenham made a breakthrough midway through the second half when Hereford were reduced to 14 players after James Marshall was shown yellow for infringing in a Cheltenham maul on the Hereford five-metre line. 

More Hereford indiscipline conceded a penalty which gave Cheltenham a five-metre lineout.

The hosts set up a driving lineout maul, touching down for a try to which the extra points were added. 

Cheltenham closed the game off when a penalty offence led to a driving maul and a scrum under the posts. 

Several phases later they ran in the final try, the conversion attempt was not successful and Cheltenham ran out winners by 34-22.

The 1870s produced another top rate performance in beating Worcester’s second string, running in six tries to win by 38-5. 

The win takes them to second in their league just two points below leaders Bedworth. Hereford try scorers were Jordon Sheehy, Joe Vaughan, Nathan Watkins, Rhys Roberts, Blane Parnell and Tom Broad. 

Jordon Sheehy converted four and the men of the match were Tom Broad and Lennon Fishlock.