Alcester 22 Keresley 12
Midlands Five West (South)
ALCESTER overcame an injury, illness and unavailability crisis which saw them go from the previous week’s position of two full sides plus five substitutes for the second team to a position of only one side with numerous changes to record an important league win despite not being at their best.
Former Colts Alex Chiles and Ed Johnson both made their first team debuts from the bench after impressing in their opening senior games for the second team in recent weeks.
The opening exchanges of Saturday’s match were scrappy from both sides until fly half Jamie Randall got the first points of the game from a penalty.
Now 3-0 up, Alcester gained confidence which led to the first try of the game scored by their prolific skipper Jack Green and Randall converted to make it 10-0.
Soon afterwards Green scored again to extend the lead to 17-0 at the interval thanks to another successful Randall conversion.
Going uphill in the second half, the win was far from secured until debutant Chiles finished off a fine backs move to score on his debut and make it five tries in his first three starts in senior rugby.
He had the chance to double his tally soon afterwards when he pounced on a loose ball and kicked through, but the referee adjudged that he failed to get downward pressure on the ball when he dived to beat the last-ditch defence.
Now 22-0 down, the Coventry visitors then dominated the final quarter of the game and their strength up front tested the Alcester defence which was led superbly by man of the match Phil Birks.
Keresley scored their first points from a penalty try between the posts and powered over for a second forwards try to close the gap to ten points going into the final minutes of the game, but Alcester hung on well to secure the win and move within six points of leaders Birmingham Civil Service.
Third placed Alcester host Rugby Welsh on Saturday (2.15pm). The Rugby side have an identical league record to Alcester and will visit Kings Coughton on the day of Alcester president Courtney Wells’ annual lunch.
Those attending will be hoping to encourage their fellow Kings Coughton men on to an important win.
ALCESTER U15s secured a long overdue victory as they defeated Coventry outfit Broadstreet 49-5.
The big difference for Alcester was the way in which the ball was being moved forward with the pack all committed to the second and third phases, which made for a treat for the spectators.
The tries were scored by Liam Ashford, Sam Sullivan, Oscar Holland (2), Cian Allen, Kyle Turner, Nathan Kennedy and Steve Lowe.
Harry Adams made two conversion and Ashford another.
