Newent went down to a narrow defeat at Hereford in a tense and hard-fought Midlands Two West encounter, paying the price for a high penalty count and a failure to take opportunities in a game of few clear-cut chances, writes Simon Barker.    

Newent had a chance to open the scoring from the kick off, as scrum half Josh Preston ran back a hurried clearance, but the referee called play back for a forward pass as the try line beckoned.  

Hereford missed an opportunity when they failed to secure their penalty line-out five metres out, before a good kick-chase put Newent back in home territory.   When Hereford were penalised at a breakdown Josh Preston kicked to the corner.  The line-out was secured and swift hands through the backs, with full back Jacob Ivell hitting the line at pace, created the space for winger Kyle Towers to finish wide on the right.  

Ivell’s conversion attempt was off target and the try was to be as good as it got as Hereford defended with great commitment and Newent struggled for quality possession.  

A great run and kick-chase from open-side Leo Oakey, who carried and tackled hard all game, had Newent back in the Hereford 22 from the restart, but two penalties conceded in quick succession allowed the hosts to take play to the visitors’ 22.  

Here they stayed for the best part of 15 minutes, until finally they breached Newent’s defence with a catch and drive from a five-metre line-out which the visitors’ pack - depleted thanks to a yellow card for Jack Devries for offences at the ruck - were unable to stop.  Iwan Holder’s conversion was off target.  

Newent were quick to regain the lead, as Hereford were penalised from the restart, after Will Tanner turned over possession at a ruck on their 22, and Jacob Ivell slotted the three points.  

The half ended as it began, with a threatening Newent attack being halted by a forward pass when a try seemed on.   

Three quick penalties against Newent gave Hereford a prime attacking opportunity from a scrum in the shadow of the posts.  They ran the ball but knocked on wide on the right under pressure.  Newent cleared downfield and chased hard to turn over possession, sparking a multi-phased attack which looked likely to bear fruit but foundered with a knock-on wide on the left.  

A key moment in the game occurred 17 minutes into the half when the referee showed Will Tanner a red card after an incident at a ruck on Hereford’s 22, leaving Newent without their chief line-out thrower. They struggled to secure any set piece possession for the rest of the game.    

The hosts were quick to capitalise on their advantage, winning a penalty on Newent’s 22 which Holder kicked to tie the score at 8-8.   What turned out to be the winning score stemmed from a penalty against Newent on their own scrum on halfway.  The referee then marched them back not 10m but 20m for dissent, bringing the kick in range for Holder who curled the kick inside the right hand upright to put the hosts ahead for the first time in the game.  

Newent had an immediate opportunity to get back on level terms, when Hereford were penalised from the restart to give Jacob Ivell a shot at goal from 32m.  The full back’s kick was struck well, but faded to the wrong side of the right hand upright.

Hereford pressed hard for further scores as the match extended through 10 minutes of stoppage time but were thwarted by immense defensive effort.