THE second round of this year's Speedo League Premier Division saw Hereford Swimming Club take on the top teams in the league with a place in the final at stake.

Once again, the swimmers performed above expectations to just stay ahead of Ferndown and power to second place on the night with 205 points to their rivals' 201.

Chief coach Richard Blackshaw enthused that the performance was the best from the squad since he joined Hereford and congratulated the whole team on their team spirit and exciting racing. They enjoyed eight first places and 11 seconds, along with numerous third and fourth places to be consistently in the points.

With only 10 events to go, Hereford had a mere two-point advantage on Ferndown and this ensured that the all-important finalist place was not decided until the last race had been swum.

Hereford gained an excellent third place in the final 6x50m freestyle for men to secure their place in the Premier Division final in December. This is an excellent achievement considering Hereford only gained promotion from Division 1 last December.

Individual winners: Jessica Rogers (11) 11/U 50m Back, Ashleigh Powell (13) 13/U 100m Back, Alex Macdougall (14) 15/U 100m Back, Matt Ashcroft (15) 15/U 100 Free, Pat Meggitt (15) 15/U 100m Butterfly, Joshua Haines (14) 15/U 100m Breaststroke.

The 15/Under Boys Medley and Freestyle Relay teams - Alex Macdougall, Joshua Haines, Pat Meggitt and Matt Ashcroft and Freestyle Pat Meggitt, Joshua Haines, Jon Pugh and Matt Ashcroft - were unbeaten on the night, even against the might of Millfield, who are Premier Division champions and were gala winners on the night.

Second places: Oliver Bufton (11) 11/U 50m Breast, Amy Ballantyne (12) 13/U and 15/U 100m Free, Ashleigh Powell (13) 13/U 100m Free, Sam Jones (13) 13/U 100m Breast, Charlotte Tully (13) 15/U 100m Butterfly.

Teams relays: 11/U Boys Freestyle Toby Razvi, Oliver Bufton, Joshua Darby, Otto Putland; 13/U Boys Freestyle and Medley Ashleigh Powell, Sam Jones, Marcus Ashcroft, David Wright, Charlie Loughman; 13/U Girls Freestyle Claire Griffiths, Jessica Rogers, Charlotte Tully, Amy Ballantyne; 15/U Girls Freestyle team Emma Rogers, Louise Griffiths, Charlotte Tully, Amy Ballantyne.