Rugby union
Alcester U15s show their fighting spirit

ALCESTER U15s staged an excellent recovery at a windy Kings Coughton on Sunday but could not prevent Keresley emerging with a 32-19 victory.

A physical Keresley side powered into a 22-0 half time lead, although Alcester could have reduced their arrears just before the break when they took play to the Keresley 5m line for the first time in the game, but were guilty of 'white line fever' instead of moving the ball wide into space, which would have been the best option.

The hosts introduced substitutes Laine Lewis and James Masters at the break and Lewis in particular added aggression and direct running to Alcester's play.

This, coupled with the fact that it was now their turn to play with the elements, saw the hosts claim the ascendancy and they reduced the deficit after a period of scrappy play and a ball hacked over the Keresley try line.

Skipper Sam Smith was quickest to react and he pounced on the loose ball for his side's first points, which were improved by the accurate boot of Charlie Whiston.

The visitors' more physical runners were always a threat despite them having conceded the territorial advantage and they scored two further tries to finally end any hope of an Alcester comeback.

Pleasingly for the home side, the last quarter of the match belonged firmly to them as the boots of fly half Josh Godson and full back Alex Chiles ensured the visitors were pinned back in their own territory with some accurate kicks to the corners.

The Kings Coughton lads reduced the deficit again with their best score of the game when a solid scrum deep in Keresley territory allowed Smith and Godson to send the ball quickly into midfield and centre Whiston carved through a gap in the visitors' defence for a well taken score which he converted.

Alcester were now getting the better of things at the breakdown where the fitness of back row trio Ed Goddard, Charlie Lakin and Matt Bott was starting to tell on their opponents.

They and their fellow forwards spoilt a Keresley lineout near the visitors' line and prop Kyran Flynn ripped the ball from the maul and crashed over the line for his fourth try of the season.

There were several encouraging Alcester performances in the game but the coaching team awarded man of the match to Ed Johnson for his best performance of the season playing in the second row - a position he does very well in but does not favour.