Whitchurch 23 v Hereford 18
This was a vital game for both teams as they were both looking for the first win of the season. It had the extra incentive for the home team to get one over on their past coach Scott Sturdy.
The game started in perfect conditions with the sun shining and the home team were the first to apply pressure on the opposition spending the first few minutes camped in the Hereford half. This led to a deliberate knock on from the Hereford centre to allow James Marvell to kick the resulting penalty putting the home team 3:0 up. Whitchurch regained possession from the kick off and were rewarded with a try from last seasons top try scorer Steve Bloore going over with a driving maul from a lineout. The conversion was missed but Whitchurch had an 8:0 lead after 8 minutes. Hereford then composed themselves and looked dangerous with their back passing the ball and were awarded a penalty in the 10th. minute which was converted to give them 3 points. It was even for the next 10 minutes but then poor discipline from the home team led to another penalty which was converted to leave it close at 8:6. The home team then pressed forward and a defensive kick from Hereford led to a lineout 10 metres out which was taken nicely and another drive from the forwards led to Steve Bloore getting his 2nd. try of the game but the touchline. The resulting conversion sailed just past the upright leaving the home team with a lead of 13:6. There was then some good passing and off loading in the tackle in the dying minutes of the half and Danny Nicholas broke through a tackle and made a break towards the line and did the perfect pass to Nathan Horton who went in for a try under the posts with the conversion converted by Marvell.
The 2nd. half saw Hereford come out and put plenty of pressure on the home team and with just 7 minutes on the clock managed to score a try which brought the away team back withing 10 points. It was the local lads who then had to work hard in defence and some hard tackling went in with Jimmy Hockenhull having to go off with a broken nose. Hereford did manage to break the defence and scored another try with the conversion missed to leave them just 5 points behind. The weather then turned with thunder and lightening and torrential rain which drove all the supporters into the stand for the last 20 minutes creating a good atmosphere which made the home team even more determined to hold on to the win. The weather stopped the Hereford backs passing game as the ball became slippy and the home team had 2 yellow cards for a high tackle and poor discipline leaving 13 men to defend the lead. This they did heroically and held on in the wet conditions and nearly scored a try in the last minute but the ball was judged to be touched down with a home defender before winger Jed Towers got there.
This was a good win for Whitchurch and coach Andy Powell was more than pleased with the first win of the season and the way every team player worked hard.
The 2nd. went to Stafford and had a convincing win 32:12 on the 4G pitch with 2 tries from captain Brook Hill, and 1 each for Tom Emmerson, Alfie Linnington and George Latham.
Next Saturday the 1st. team are away at Malvern and will be looking at getting their first away win of the season.
