Rugby union
Alcester left frustrated by abandonment

THERE was huge disappointment for Alcester on Saturday when their Midlands Four West (South) encounter at leaders Old Wheatleyans was abandoned after 55 minutes with the hosts leading just 17-10.

A shock away win appeared on the cards as Alcester were on top but, when match referee Dermot Collins suffered a knee injury and could not continue, the match was abandoned and will need to be replayed in the year as the game was short of the required minimum of 60 minutes for the result to stand.

It was a real shame as the strength of Alcester's first team squad had been put to the test with this tough trip to Coventry and, without a number of regulars, they had produced an excellent performance.

Starting the match as they finished the previous weekend with their comeback against Harbury, it was Alcester who began the more impressively and put the home side under pressure right from the kick-off.

Within ten minutes they were ahead when centre Andy Conway intercepted the ball on his own 22m line and outsprinted the Old Wheats defence to score the first try of the game.

It was a fine start from Conway who responded magnificently to the disappointment of the last match to put in a man of the match performance.

In blustery conditions and with the wind behind them, the hosts were always going to come back hard at Alcester but determined defence from the whole team maintained their lead until the home side's targetman at inside centre finally broke through to score under the posts and give his team a 7-5 lead.

Up front the arrival of Nick O'Connor as a first half substitute bolstered the back row and, with Dave Marriott returning to the second row, Alcester competed well at the set piece and the back three of Jack Green, Jack Sears and Will Harcourt dealt comfortably with the high kicks put in regularly by the home number 10.

Old Wheats' most potent weapon was the rolling maul and in the last ten minutes of the half they used it to great effect.

They finally drove over from a set piece for their second try and soon afterwards did the same from a lineout close to the Alcester line.

The wind was always going to be a factor so 17-5 down at half time Alcester knew the game was still theirs to win. With the elements with them following the turnaround, half backs Lewis Hatton and Tom Burgess began to dictate play and Alcester were on the front foot.

It was not long before their first score of the half when number 8 Stu Fletcher charged forward from the base of a scrum. He was held up just short but recycled possession quickly to allow prop Jack Horton to power over for his first ever Alcester try.

Now within one score and with half an hour of the game still to go, an away win was on for Alcester who were putting in one of their best performances of the season so far.

In defence they were organised and committed whilst in attack they were always threatening, but unfortunately two serious looking injuries in quick succession put a stop to the match.

First a crunching tackle from Alcester centre Matt Hurlston led to one of the home wingers leaving the field on a stretcher and soon after the restart the referee pulled up with a knee injury from which he could not recover.

The final action for the Kings Coughton men this year will be the annual Boxing Day match between the President's and Chairman's XVs.

Kick-off at Kings Coughton is from 11.30am and all friends old and new are welcome to come and join the fun on and off the field.

Alcester return to league action with a visit to Birmingham Exiles on January 7.