AFTER visiting Greyhound earlier in the season, nursing hangovers from England's World Cup victory the day before, it was a fresher, but more experienced Ledbury team that hosted the visitors in the return fixture, in what was a welcome return of true veterans rugby to Ross Road.

LEDBURY VETS 19pts, GREYHOUND VETS 5pts

The game started with Ledbury applying pressure straight away, and it wasn't long before a ruck five yards out saw quick hands across the backs created a gap for fly-half Tim Reilly to cross the line for an early try. He missed his own conversion.

The visitors, playing down the slope, came straight back, and took the game to Ledbury with effective rucking and mauling, and were twice held up over the Ledbury line as a result of stout work in defence.

However, it was only a matter of time before they did successfully breach the Ledbury line with a quick move across the backs. The conversion was also missed.

Shortly afterwards, and having had to re-shuffle due to injuries to Keith Major and Steve Black, Ledbury came back, and some great runs in the backs nearly produced several tries, but for the last pass not quite finding the mark. Eventually their efforts were rewarded as Reilly chased though his own kick only to be taken out off the ball. The referee gave a penalty try, although it could be argued that Reilly would still have got there for the score.

Ether way, it didn't matter, Reilly slotted the conversion and Ledbury led 12-5.

For the rest of the first half, the Ledbury pack continued to provide the backs with a solid platform, ably exploited by Sean Walsh and Pete Butler. One such break from their own half nearly saw skipper Humphrey over in the corner but he was denied by resolute Greyhound tackling.

After the turnaround, both sides came out enjoying their rugby, with both sets of forwards providing platforms for the backs to stretch their legs.

After several close calls at both ends, it was the Ledbury pack who came closest, as Rollins, Wilesmith and Balch all picked up and drove on, only to be held up just short of the Greyhound line. Eventually, however, efforts were rewarded as a well set maul gave the opportunity for Pete Butler to break through a gap in the Greyhound defence to score.

The try was converted by Tim Reilly for what proved to be a winning 19-5 lead.

The game continued to ebb and flow after that, with both sides in turn creating attacking opportunities only to be denied by resolute defence.

Late in the game, several Greyhound line outs had Ledbury under pressure, but cool heads from Reilly, Humphrey, and Walsh in his last game for the club, among others, saw Ledbury clear the lines to seal a victory in a well-fought, entertaining game, played in true veterans spirit.

Later in the season Ledbury will be hosting a touring vets side from Duckenfield, where LRFC life member Darrel Lane is now based. They are also hoping for a game with Painswick later in March.

It is also hoped that a round-robin vets competition can be established next season between the various Herefordshire sides.

Anyone interested in any of these should contact Trevor Humphrey on 01531 635774 or 07808 987846.