Wright kicks winning penalty at death as Hereford snatch win

Hereford coach Dean Powell commended his side for turning a poor performance in the opening 15 minutes into a positive win as Tom Williams, Ewan Duncan, Tom Broad and Wright ran over tries.

He said “We turned up and within 15 minutes were 21 points down. We were just not at the races and there were strong words behind the posts, from coaches and players about how much the badge means to them and what we wanted from this game, because it could have been a 50-point loss.

“Sils scored really simple tries through basic errors from us allowing them to stay in our 22 and they capitalised.

“Then to compound our errors, we lost Ewan Duncan to a yellow card, so after 25 minutes we were down to 14 men and down 21 points, but then we started playing some really good rugby with outstanding play from forwards and backs interlinking.

“The team tries we scored were some of the best this season. At half time we were 21 – 12 down, we had the wind at our backs and I was pretty confident we could get into the game.”

“To come away with a one-point victory in the last second of the game shows that our fitness levels, tenacity and effort levels for each other are right up there. I would say this must go down as one of the best victories in the history of Hereford Rugby.”

Silhillians kicked off and within three minutes had scored from a line-out. Ten minutes later Sils scored again in the corner.

With only 15 minutes gone, Sils added a further try, all three tries were converted, taking the score to 21-0.

A yellow card for Duncan saw Hereford reduced to 14 men for 10 minutes. Hereford then mustered their response as Wright found a good touch well inside the Sils 22, from the lineout Williams broke from the maul and ran round behind the posts for the first Hereford try, the conversion was slotted by Wright.

As the interval approached, following good interplay between forwards and backs Duncan broke away for an unconverted try which took the half time score to 21-12.

Within 10 minutes of the restart, Hereford had taken a narrow lead. Following a scrum, a Hereford cross kick Tom Broad raced between the posts to touch down, Wright made the conversion.

Then, following a scrum the ball went through hands to Steph Dyers whose well-judged chip ahead, was collected and touched down by Wright for the try, which was not converted.

Sils responded and scored from a tap penalty in the corner, the conversion was wide, but Sils now held a 26-24 lead.

Hereford kicked off with renewed determination, and well into injury time Sils offended at the break down and Wright slotted the winning penalty.

The 1870s home game with Walsall II was postponed due to the waterlogged state of Wyeside. This Saturday the 1970s play Bishop’s Castle and Onny Valley away, while Hereford play Shipston on Stour away on January 10.