Ledbury 10 Alcester 15
Midlands Three West (South)
ALCESTER completed their first double of the season as they saw off their Herefordshire hosts on Saturday to remain firmly in the hunt for promotion.
The Kings Coughton side remains seventh despite their victory but are now within just two points of third placed Old Leamingtonians with eight matches remaining. Second placed Rugby St Andrews are nine points above Alcester.
Eighteen-year-old winger Oscar Holland showed skill and pace to finish off two well worked tries and Ben Hope scored the only other points for Alcester in heavy conditions after an excellent break by Phil Birks.
Alcester were 10-7 up at half time but, with the worst of the conditions to come in the second half, this lead did not look to be enough, especially as the home side had opened the scoring and kicked a successful conversion, which Alcester had not managed to do.
The home side rallied and piled on the pressure for most of the second 40 minutes but Alcester’s defence was solid and it had to be.
Ledbury were able to level the score with a penalty but squandered opportunities to cross the Alcester line before Holland’s second try late in the second half secured a fine victory – a score good enough to win any game.
Flanker Lee Avery-Sherwood was outstanding in defence and attack and was deservedly named man of the match on his return to the Alcester team from a long injury lay-off.
This was a closely contested game in difficult conditions and the home side will count themselves unlucky to come away with just a losing bonus point.
However, Alcester hung on in the final stages to secure their fourth win in their last five league games. Alcester host ninth placed Nuneaton outfit Manor Park on Saturday.
ALCESTER 2nds were beaten 29-5 by a well organised Shottery side.
The Stratford outfit took an early lead during a period of immediate pressure and continued to dominate, scoring four first half tries to make it 24-0 at the break.
Alcester came out fighting in the second half and were the better team for the early part but missed several chances to get a foothold in the game.
Shottery scored against the run of play as a good set of hands got them across the line for their only try of the second 40 minutes.
Alcester finally managed to get themselves on the scoreboard with the last try of the game from Chris Howell.
Rupert Daffeern was named Alcester’s man of the match.
The second XV also play Manor Park on Saturday in north Warwickshire.
