ALCESTER RFC returned to winning ways with a 31-25 victory against Ledbury to maintain the club’s perfect home record this season.
The hosts held off a second-half Ledbury fightback to seal a bonus point win at Kings Coughton as Alcester sealed a fifth successive home victory.
A hat-trick of tries from Lewis Wright and further scores from Josh O’Connor and Ieuan Hopkin helped Alcester return to winning ways.
The result means Alcester sit fourth in the Counties 1 Midlands West (South) table.
Alcester scored the game’s first try after just six minutes when O’Connor broke an attempted tackle to open the scoring and Ed Gough kicked the extras.
Ledbury reduced the deficit just past the quarter-hour mark from a scrum close to the Alcester line.
Minutes later, Alcester extended their lead when Wright powered his way through the Ledbury defence to score under the posts as Gough kicked the conversion.
The visitors lost a player to the sin-bin on the half-hour mark for a deliberate knock-on and Alcester made the most of the man advantage when Hopkin crashed over the line.
Alcester scored their bonus point try on the stroke of half time when O’Connor fended off two defenders under pressure before Wright crossed for his second try.
The home side led by 19 points at the interval only for Ledbury to strike early in the second half from a dominant maul following a catch and drive at a disputed lineout.
However, Alcester hit back as Wright scored his hat-trick try and Gough kicked the conversion to put the home side 21 points ahead.
Ledbury forced their way over the Alcester line in the final quarter of the game before the home side lost Nigel Burrows to the sin-bin for repeated infringements.
The visitors scored their bonus point try in the corner soon after following another powerful scrum.
Burrows then returned to the pitch only for Alcester to lose Hopkin for persistent infringement by the home side moments later.
Ledbury scored a catch and drive try from a lineout to set up a nervy finish as Alcester held firm to maintain their perfect home record.
Alcester are next in action against Leamington on Saturday, December 6 with kick-off at 2.15pm at Moorefields.
