Rugby Welsh 10 Alcester 52
Midlands Five West (South)
SCINTILLATING performances from man of the match Ryan Clark and veteran scrum half Robbie Parker, along with the rest of the Alcester back line, carried their team to another big win on Saturday and maintained Alcester’s status at the top of the table.
The writing was on the wall for Welsh from the very first minute of the match as the home side failed to deal with Martin Gurr’s kick-off. When the ball came back to him he put the ball high into the air, centre Andy Conway rose highest and was then unstoppable as he went over to score the first try of the game.
Winger Alex Chiles was next on the scoresheet with a fine finish which was converted by Gurr.
To their credit, the home side dusted themselves down and clawed their way back into the game with a first half penalty after taking the upper hand up front.
With the score at 12-3, Alcester lost two of their star performers. Andy Conway went off with a nasty-looking leg injury, soon followed to the touchline by flanker Ben Hope who suffered a rib injury. Both players are unlikely to feature again this season and all at the club wish them a speedy return to fitness.
Replaced by Jamie Clarke and Josh Eborall respectively, Alcester refused to let the injuries disrupt them and winger Clark scored the first of his three tries to give his team a 17-3 lead at the interval.
The home pack began the second half in dominant form and scored a deserved try to reduce the deficit to 17-10, but that was the last point Alcester would concede.
Substitute scrum half Parker ran in a quickfire hat-trick, while winger Clark ran in two more to complete his hat-trick which won him the man of the match award.
Full back Tom Pedley put in his best performance of the season so far, flawless under the high ball and always a threat on the counter-attack.
Fly half Gurr was successful with all five of his second half conversions to complete the scoring and push his team beyond the 50-point mark.
Alcester, whose penultimate league game is the visit of Trinity Guild on March 21, remain above second placed Birmingham Civil Service on points difference although, with a game in hand, the latter remain favourites to win the title.
Alcester 2nds 44 Bournville 3rds 10
ALCESTER 2nds completed a good weekend for the club with one of their biggest wins of the season against opponents whose 1st XV play in the national leagues, but whom arrived late and short of players and were lent some by their hosts.
With a lack of front row players available to both sides, the game featured uncontested scrums throughout and was at times a very scrappy affair.
Alcester dominated the first half, however, and ran in six tries. James Daffern opened the scoring, before Stu Whitehead scored the first of his hat-trick of tries in the opening 40 minutes.
Not to be outdone by his brother, Rup Daffern also crossed as did Toby Allen just before half time, and Josh Godson and Dom Evans added conversions for a commanding 34-0 half time lead.
The second half was much more even, with both sides scoring two tries. Alcester’s came from Jasper Foster and Dom Evans to round off an encouraging win for a very youthful side.
ALCESTER U16s defeated Woodrush 31-22 as Tom Goddard’s hat-trick of tries completed the double over the Wythall side.
Ousman Mohammad and Callum Wright also scored tries and there were four conversions from Josh O’Connor.
Joint men of the match were Ed Alborghetti and Tom Willis for their excellent work on the flanks.
Flanker Matt Johnson in the heart of the forward battle in the 2nds game. (s)
