DESPITE being slightly rusty Hereford RFC head coach Scott Sturdy praised his side for battling out a 20-26 win at Worcester.

Both sides showed the effects of the three-week holiday break and with the Wyeside suffering from flooding Hereford had limited training opportunities ahead of the match.

However, tries from Gareth Jones, Scott Robinson, Jake Cheshire and Levi Hughes secured a bonus point victory.

“Not a great start to 2024, but after no activity for three weeks, the ground being flooded prohibiting training this week, we’ve got the five points and a valuable away win,” said Sturdy. “We do know though, that we’ll have to be better next week at home when we play Cheltenham, who are riding high at the moment.

“The flooding at Wyeside has receded and the pitches will be starting to dry out, so we are very hopeful that that game will be on next week, so please come down and support.

“The 1870s game was postponed due to the floods, but they will be back in action again next week when they travel to Worcester, where they will play their second team.”

Hereford made early inroads into Worcester territory, but it was the hosts who took the lead with a converted try after six minutes.

The visitors found a good touch from a penalty inside their own half and the catch and drive took them over the line.

Eventually Hereford replied on 24 minutes when the visitors were awarded a scrum near the Worcester line and Gareth Jones crashed over in the corner, the conversion attempt, from a difficult angle was just wide.

During the final minutes of the half Hereford conceded a succession of penalties, two of which were converted to give Worcester a 13-5 half-time lead.

Hereford started the second half well and from a lineout, a perfectly executed catch and drive enabled Scott Robinson to drive over for the try, which was converted by Iwan Holder.

The Wyesiders then camped in the Worcester 22 for several minutes, before a scrum on the line gave Cheshire the opportunity to charge over the line, Holder slotted the conversion giving Hereford a 13-19 lead.

Worcester responded and exerted pressure on the Hereford line resulting in the referee awarding a penalty try.

After briefly going behind again Hereford took the lead again when a surging break by Jones carried on by Holder, took play deep into the Worcester half, but ended, as with so many other attacking moves, with a knock on.

In a very well-crafted move across the back line, Holder accelerated into space, fed Hughes who beat three players to go down the touchline to score the winning try. Holder who kicked excellently off the tee, converted with his third successful kick.