Hereford Rugby Club thrash Northwich 52-7 in Midlands One West at Wyeside

HEREFORD duo Gareth Miles and Billy Grisman are backing coach Mark Harris to remain in the Wyeside hot-seat next season, writes TOM VALE.

The Wyesiders have had a solid campaign in Midlands One West and last month Harris said he ‘had unfinished business’ at the club.

“I definitely want him to stay,” said scrum-half Grisman.

“He keeps the boys together, everyone respects him and he is a great coach.

“He is taking us forward and even though we started slowly this season, we’re bringing young guys through and it’s going well.”

Experienced hooker Miles said: “I’d like to see Mark stay on. I think he has a lot to offer. He has experience, he is keeping up with the game and he has a lot of contacts.”

Welshman Harris is keen to remain at Hereford and watched his side’s eight-try demolition of struggling Northwich last weekend – after the visitors had taken an early 7-0 advantage.

Despite a narrow threepoint lead at half-time, Hereford swept their opponents aside with six secondhalf tries.

The visitors, however, dominated the early exchanges and almost took the lead in the fourth minute when the Hereford defence managed to hold the ball up and prevent a try.

But, on 10 minutes, Sam Naylor squeezed through after some neat passing play and Joel Baker converted to put the Cheshire side ahead.

That was as good as it got for the visitors who conceded just five minutes later when Sean Day touched down in the corner.

Hereford began to find their stride as a flowing move was finished off by Ben Hillstead but Dean Powell missed both conversions, and a penalty either side of half-time.

Early in the second period, Baker missed a chance to level for Northwich and the hosts didn’t look back after that.

A lovely offload enabled Perry Pudge to touchdown beneath the posts, and then a cross-field chip saw Pudge pounce on a loose ball to score his second in just six minutes.

Powell, who turned 30 in the week, then seemed to find his kicking boots, converting both tries and striking one in off the post after James Parker powered over the line.

Ben Osborne then dissected the Northwich defence and Jamie Humphreys added another try, with Powell making his fourth and fifth consecutive conversions.

Nat Thomas completed the rout and Osborne made no mistake with his only kick.

“I didn’t think we were going to run away with it that much,” said 38-year-old Miles.

“They were strong at the start but they folded and we managed to dominate in the scrums.”

The score was just 10-7 in Hereford’s favour at the break and scrum-half Grisman admitted: “We were worried at half-time.

“They made us dig hard for the win.

“We had a slow start and they put us on the backfoot.

“In the second-half we started playing like we’re supposed to.

“With the weather being nice, it made it easy to pass the ball around.”

Coach Harris knew Hereford had the players to cause problems.

“I knew that if we could got plenty of the ball, looked after it, and supported the ball carriers, we could finish it with the quality we have in the backs,” said the Welshman.

“Sean Day, Adam Knight, Pudge and Grisman, all have gas.”

With a number of youngsters in the side, Harris said he was pleased with their efforts.

“Winning and finishing in the top six is what we want and which is what we set to achieve at the start of season,”

he said.

“The youngsters did a great job today, especially James Parker who is improving every week, and Tom Ross. These boys are all starting to step up.”

MEANWHILE, Billy Grisman has ruled himself out of the running for the first-team skipper’s role next season.

Scrum-half Grisman said: “I think Jamie Bullock is taking a bit of a backseat.

“Hopefully he’ll still play but one of the younger lads may have a go at being skipper next year.”

Ali McColl and Ben Hillstead are emerging as the two frontrunners for the captain’s armband.

Grisman added: “They are two very good candidates and friends of mine and I’ve played with them for years.

“They could certainly step up to the task.” Grisman added: “I’m not interested in being captain.

It’s not for me. I’ll just stick to what I do best.”

AND Hereford have earned a trip to Moseley Colts in the semi-finals of the North Midlands Colts Cup after seeing off Stourbridge Lions 17-3 in their last-eight tie.

After a scoreless first-half, Stourbridge took the lead with a penalty early in the second period.

But Hereford soon struck back when Leon Parsons took advantage of an overlap to cross the whitewash.

Further scores came from Tom Slater and George Eynon, who converted one of the tries, as Hereford’s superior fitness and good teamwork eased them home.