Old Leamingtonians 27 Alcester 12
Midlands Three West (South)
DESPITE giving a good account of themselves against their promotion-chasing hosts, Alcester were eventually beaten by Old Leamingtonians for whom Saturday was Vice Presidents Day.
Alcester were again forced to make changes, including at the crucial scrum half and fly half positions where they have struggled to find a settled pairing this season. Ed Gough and Simon Gardener took the shirts but this was a difficult game to make first appearances together.
The home side took the lead with a converted try and added a penalty before the visitors hit back. A lineout in OLs half was driven on by the Alcester pack and after a series of forward drives hooker James Bates crashed over. Matt Ashby converted.
The visitors struggled to get into their rhythm and a number of handling errors prevented much continuity in their play, which the home side profited from as they added a further converted try and penalty to lead 20-7 at the break.
Alcester introduced prop Kyran Flynn and flanker Matt Alderman for Bates and Louis Smith after 50 minutes and they were part of an improved second half showing from the visitors.
They had to manage with 14 men for a ten-minute period after second row James Hibbard was yellow-carded for killing the ball – a reaction from the referee for one too many infringements by Alcester.
With Hibbard back on the field, they got themselves back into the game when, following another driven lineout when some of the backs joined in to add up the numbers, Tommy Wright peeled off the back of the maul and fed Gough who dived over.
Unfortunately for Alcester though, despite further pressure including one occasion when they were held up over the line, that is close at it got for Alcester.
They were forced to play the remaining few minutes with 14 men as replacement Flynn was sin-binned for entering an attacking OLs maul at the side.
From the resulting penalty the home side span the ball wide and Alcester’s Jack Green was penalised for a high tackle on an OLs player near the visitors’ line and the referee awarded a penalty try to conclude the scoring.
Eighth-placed Alcester are at home to ninth-placed Old Yardleians on Saturday.
Alcester 2nds 29 Old Laurentians 22
ALCESTER 2nds recorded a narrow win over their visitors from Rugby, despite the best efforts of a second half fightback by Old Laurentians.
Man of the match Scott McGee led the way with two tries, whilst Lloyd Hiorns, Jacob Turner and Matt Jupp added to Alcester’s tally, all of which came in the first half which ended 29-5.
With the breeze and slope at their back in the second half, the visitors took control and scored three tries as they looked to find a way back into the game.
The competitive nature of the match led to a few flashpoints and near the end of the match Alcester’s Sean Sudworth and an opponent were yellow-carded following an altercation.
Alcester 2nds take on Old Yardleians 2nds this weekend.
