JAMIE Bullock enjoyed a perfect send-off as Hereford captain - as the Wyesiders sentenced their Shropshire neighbours to relegation.

Bullock was determined to finish his two-year tenure on a high and his children - Katie, 7, Zac, 5, and Ben, 3 - were mascots for the day.

A brace of tries each from Giles Sayner and James Parker - who had previously scored just one between them all season - led Hereford home in their final game.

It has been a solid campaign for Hereford after their demotion from National Three Midlands 12 months ago and coach Mark Harris is expected to remain at the helm.

Bullock, 34, said: “It was quite emotional and it was important for me to get the win and sign off with a bonus point victory.

“There are times when we leave to play a game and I feel quite bad when I don't see my children for the majority of the day.

“I am now going to take the summer off. I am sure I will miss the rugby and be back in August but we shall have to wait and see.”

There were emotions of a different kind in the Ludlow camp as the result ended their two-season stay in Midlands One West.

With Barkers Butts romping to victory over Whitchurch, Ludlow’s relegation was confirmed. The squad huddled together for five minutes after the final whistle.

Ludlow head coach Dave Irish, an ex-Malvern player, said it had been a nervous afternoon but his players put up a brave display.

“When a club gets relegated, it’s a difficult time for everyone involved,” said the Irishman.

“I just wanted to reassure the boys that we will come back strongly again next season.

“We scored four tries and not many teams come to Hereford and do that. “I am disappointed with the relegation but pleased with the performance.”

Around 180 people watched last Saturday’s 10-try thriller in glorious conditions at Wyeside.

Hereford’s leading try-scorer Tom Ewins crossed the line to finish with nine for the campaign and Perry Pudge took his tally to six.

Man-of-the-match Dean Powell had a decent afternoon, adding urgency to the home team’s attacks and kicking three conversions and two penalties.

Ludlow knew they had to win to keep alive their survival bid and they fought bravely, despite having two players sin-binned in the opening period. Hereford struggled for fluency in the first-half but managed to eek out a narrow 17-13 lead at the interval.

However, the visitors struggled for the ball in the second-half and the pressure on them eventually told.

Will Sparrow kicked Ludlow 3-0 ahead before Powell, who had missed an earlier shot at goal, levelled in the 16th minute.

Will Green profited from a poor Hereford scrum and picked up the loose ball before charging 25 metres down the blindside to touch down.

Hereford’s Sayner crossed for his maiden try, which was converted, but Ludlow hit back and regained the lead, 13-10, through Mark Williams’ determined touchdown.

Parker crashed over from close-range to restore Hereford’s advantage just before the break against a Ludlow side, with Rawlings in the sin-bin.

Powell’s second penalty stretched Hereford’s lead to 20-13 and then a loose pass from Ludlow skipper Darren Brick proved costly for the visitors.

Powell broke through and offloaded to Pudge, who crossed the whitewash.

Fly-half Powell added the conversion to put Hereford 27-13 in front within just six minutes of the restart.

Sparrow kicked a long-range penalty for Ludlow before Hereford replied, Parker scoring the Wyesiders’ fourth try from a driving maul.

The game looked dead and buried at 32-16 in Hereford’s favour but Adam Knight was yellow-carded and Brick atoned for his error with a well-taken 61st-minute try which was converted by Sparrow.

Hereford’s lead had been cut to nine points but they cut through again, this time Ewins finishing off a quick break from Pudge.

Still Ludlow were not finished and Sam Wilkes dived over for the visitors’ fourth try to reduce the arrears to 37-28 with two minutes remaining.

However, Hereford had the final word in stoppage-time, Sayner popping over for his second try of the season to round off an exciting afternoon.

Hereford stalwart Rob Davies used to live near Bishops Castle and admitted he was disappointed to be losing a derby with Ludlow next term.

“Ludlow pushed us very hard in the first half and, with a bit of luck they could have made it. “We would have liked something to have kept them up in this division but Barkers Butts won and spoiled the party for them.”