ALCESTER RFC secured a fourth successive win as they edged out Tenbury 15-14 to move up to third in the Midlands 3 West (South).
Tom Burgess kicked a nerveless penalty to secure the points after Lewis Walker and Alex Chiles crossed for tries with Ed Gough converting Alcester’s second score.
Tenbury had a late try ruled out as Alcester clung on to a precious win as they look to chase down joint league leaders Old Leamingtonians and Ledbury.
The opening stages of the game were scrappy with several penalties given away before Chiles chased a cross-field kick that went into touch five metres from the Tenbury line.
And Alcester soon crossed for the game’s first points when Lewis Walker raced over with the touchline conversion wayward.
Chiles came close to doubling Alcester’s lead shortly after when he knocked on when attempting to intercept a pass inches from the Tenbury try line.
A series of penalties and lineouts slowed the pace of the game with Jack Green penalised for holding on after a promising run.
Tenbury then took the lead with a converted try from their first flowing attack with both teams having a player sent to the sin bin after tensions spilled over following the score.
And having trailed 7-5 at half-time, Alcester quickly reclaimed the lead after the break.
With both sides still a man light, Tenbury fumbled the ball forward which made its way to Chiles who danced his way through the defence to race under the posts.
Gough’s successful conversion against his old side handed Alcester a 12-7 lead before Tenbury earned a series of penalties as both teams tried to gain territorial advantage.
And Tenbury’s pressure paid off when a quick tap and go on the left-wing caught out the Alcester defence and resulted in the home side’s second converted try of the match.
However, Burgess then kicked a sublime penalty after Tenbury were penalised for holding on to edge Alcester back into a one-point lead.
Tenbury thought they had snatched the win with a late try in the corner only for the score to be disallowed by the referee as Alcester held on to claim another away victory.
Alcester return to action away at Bromyard on Saturday, January 8.
