Despite the loss of a scrum half,fly half and outside centre, all three regular starters from last season, Wanderers pre-season went really well and the squad kicked off the new season in confident mood.

An opening powerful home win against Barkers Butts was followed by a tricky away fixture versus Shropshire outfit Newport who like the Wanderers had just been relegated from the National Leagues.With many enforced changes due to injury,unavailability and two red cards v Barkers Butts the Wanderers did remarkably well to come away with a bonus point in a 21-19 loss.This is the closest any side have got to Newport all season.

The next six matches were all won. Bonus point home wins against Berkeswell,Silhillians,Crewe and Earlsdon with a combined scoreline of 170-27 were tight in part but ultimately comfortable. The two away wins against old rivals Stratford and Stoke were extremely hard fought and very satisfying. The Wanderers were now ready for the local derby in which Hereford played the percentages really well, taking penalties when on offer and at the same time, by nullifying the Wanderer’s attacking threat deservedly ran out winners The Wanderers will surely hope that their three back row missing on the day are fit for the return in the New Year.

The games immediately after this defeat were tests of character and the Wanderers have shown this in abundance.Tough bonus point away wins at Walsall and Whitchurch were separated by perhaps the best of the lot; a 45-5 home win against 3rd placed Kenilworth, followed by another bonus point home win against newly promoted Leek.

New players have been regularly introduced throughout the season and all have added missing depth to the squad.The return of Dave Whiting and James Priddey after long term injury and the return to the Worcester area of leading try scorer Jake Saddington have been a bonus.Injuries to Chris Griffiths and Russ Marsland have had to be overcome but the stars of the season to date undoubtedly have been the five players competing for the front row slots. These stalwarts plus the discovered kicking sensation that is inside centre Ollie Meadows have shouldered the burden for the
first half of the season.

There is a long way still to go with a tough home clash against table topping Newport next up and then a glut of away fixtures in the New Year but leading up to Christmas the Wanderers
are in a happy place.

Richard Cumming