Two tries from ex-Gloucester academy player Guy Thompson helped Hereford Rugby Club to a comprehensive 30-17 victory at bottom-of-the-table Bedford Athletic.
The Wyesiders built on their 13-0 half time lead to overwhelm their opponents after the break thanks to a solid platform laid by their forwards.
Scrum half Gary Preece opened the scoring for Hereford with an unconverted try, which came after a strong scrum had allowed the visitors to shove their hosts off their own ball.
Outside half Colin Osborne added a penalty minutes later to take Hereford’s lead out to 8-0.
Hereford rallied once more and after a strong lineout drive, the Wyesiders were able to cross again, this time through Thompson, to forge a 13-0 lead at half time.
Bedford replied after the break with a penalty to reduce the arrears but it was not long before the Wyesiders were in for their third score through Sean Day after some neat back play.
Osborne was on target with the conversion to extend the Hereford lead to 20-3 but disaster struck for the visitors when Bedford snatched an interception score. The conversion cut the deficit to 10 points but the Wyesiders were in again when Thompson raced over a flowing move midway through the half.
Richard Rees kicked the conversion and later a penalty to ensure Hereford held a commanding 30-10 lead going into the final stages.
But the visitors let their foot off the pedal and allowed Bedford to grab a late consolation try which was converted to give the final score a flattering appearance in favour of the home side at 30-17.
The win puts Hereford one point above county rivals Luctonians, who had their away trip to Malvern postponed due to the weather.
“It was good to get a game,” said Hereford’s director of rugby John Watkins. “We played quite well considering we’ve not played for three weeks.
The handling was quite good but we didn’t take all our chances.”
The Wyesiders will be hoping to fine tune their skills during the week before Saturday’s clash at home with Worcestershire rivals Bromsgrove.
