Hereford 8 pts Stoke 26

THE final scoreline did not do Hereford justice after they produced a much-improved performance against fellow Powergen Midlands 2 West strugglers Stoke but failed to get the benefit of a couple of disputed decisions.

The visitors elected to play against a stiff wind and Hereford pinned them in their own 22-metre area for long periods but were held out by good tackling.

In one of their few excursions into home territory Stoke took the lead with a penalty and then extended their lead with a disputed try from a rolling maul when Hereford claimed to have held up the final drive over the line. The conversion gave the visitors a 10-point lead.

The Wyesiders hit back with a well-worked try with slick handling creating an overlap on the left for fly-half Gary Preece to touch down. Colin Osborne missed the conversion but made amends with a penalty.

Hereford made a bright start to the second half and split open the Stoke defence after a series of well-executed phases of play.

With the visiting defence in tatters, Osborne joined the line and put left-winger Sam Walker over with a long pass which was ruled as forward.

Hereford's attacking opportunities were limited and Stoke punished a couple of penalty awards to establish a winning lead, completing with a late converted try.