Hereford RFC suffer away defeat after Edwardians race level

HEREFORD RFC suffered another away defeat as Edwardians’ key players upped their game in the second half and ran over six tries, resulting in a 52-8 score-line.

Hereford head coach Scott Sturdy praised his side’s first half performance and they came into half-time well in the match at 14-8 down, before the floodgates opened.

“A very good first half performance,” said Sturdy.

“There were huge improvements in terms of platform, scrum and lineout, the game management was excellent and the attack was more fluent.

“We had 60 or 70 percent possession, but unfortunately did not capitalise and put the points on the board that we should have.

“At half time Edwardians levelled up and we saw the best of their star players in the second half.

“The number 8, outside centre and full back were all exceptional. Unfortunately, when Edwardians went up a level Hereford went down one and it became one way traffic from then on.

“There was some incredible rugby played by Edwardians, who were also recipients of some incredible slices of luck.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many balls bounce into hands quite in the way they did today, but sometimes it goes for you and sometimes not.

“Difficult for the lads who went away after such a good first half performance. We understand the task that’s before us, one more game before Christmas.”

“The 1870s lost 12 – 24 to a very strong table topping Old Yardleians side at Wyeside (tries from Ollie Langford and Harvey Vaughan).

“They put up a respectable performance considering they haven’t played for several weeks due to walk overs from the opposition and cancellations due to weather conditions. There were multiple opportunities left out on the field by the Hereford side and they could have come away with a result.”

Hereford took an early lead with an Iwan Holder penalty when Edwardians were caught offside.

The Wyesiders were controlling field position, but when they lost Mal Stuffins for ten minutes in the bin, Edwardians took advantage of the extra man to open their account with a try and conversion.

Hereford responded with an unconverted try. The visitors set up some sustained pressure well inside Edwardians territory and eventually a blind side break saw Tom Ewins crash through a couple of tackles to score in the corner.

Hereford had a deserved one-point lead until right on the stroke of half-time, when Edwardians added a second try. The conversion took the interval score to 14-8.

Early in the second half some missed tackles let in Edwardians for their third converted try.

Hereford were conceding too many penalties, giving Edwardians easy field position and some narrow defending allowed them to exploit space on the edges for their fourth try.

Tries were now coming at regular intervals, four in the final 20 minutes, three of which were converted taking the final score to 52-8.

Next week’s games are Hereford RFC at home to Whitchurch and 1870s away to Edwardians II.