Hereford Rugby Club completed a splendid second half fightback to overturn a 16-point interval deficit and beat hosts Kettering 18-16.
The Wyesiders started slowly and during a dour opening quarter struggled to assert any significant pressure.
The half was characterised by scrappy play at the breakdown and poor tactical kicking but Kettering opened the scoring with a penalty from fullback Tim Jones. And they went further ahead with a try from centre Joe Newman which was converted by Jones.
A yellow card for Hereford prop Ben Hillstead hampered the Wyesiders efforts and gave Jones chance, which he duly took, to increase the Kettering lead to 13-0 with a penalty.
A determined effort from the Hereford forwards in Hillstead’s absence kept them in touch but they were punished for indiscipline with another Jones penalty.
Kettering held a 16-0 half time lead which many thought would to too much for Hereford to overcome.
But a confident start to the second half ensured Kettering were in for a battle.
Outside half Dean Powell got Hereford’s first points with a penalty after the visitors had exerted pressure.
The Wyesiders soon went in for their first try when winger Keiron Hallam raced in at the corner after receiving a short pass from a lineout. Powell was unable to convert but Hereford were within striking distance at 16-8.
More pressure allowed Powell to make it 16-11 with a penalty just before Kettering’s Rory Keir was sin-binned for an offence at the breakdown.
With the momentum firmly in Hereford’s favour, Powell landed the resulting penalty to cut Kettering’s lead to just two points.
The writing seemed to be on the wall when Hereford second row Jamie Bullock capped an excellent performance by charging over for a try from a rehearsed lineout.
Powell slotted the conversion to give Hereford a narrow 16-18 lead with several minuteleft.
Kettering came back in the final few minutes to put pressure on the visitors’ defence but Hereford held firm for a well earned victory.
With their place in National Three Midlands all but cemented, Hereford can relax momentarily ahead of Saturday’s visit of resurgent Longton.
