ALCESTER RFC saw their seven-game winning run come to an end at the hands of Old Wheatleyans after they were beaten 18-12 in Coventry.
Jacob Turner and Ieuan Hopkins crossed for tries either side of the break for Alcester who were unable to turn around a late deficit to suffer their first defeat in two months.
Despite the result, Alcester remain top of the Counties 2 Midlands West (South) table, one point clear of Manor Park.
And Alcester were temporarily reduced to 14-men within the opening seconds of the game after captain Will Silk was shown a yellow card for being in front of the kicker and took out his opposite number in the air.
However, Old Wheats were unable to capitalise with the extra man before a penalty handed the hosts a slender three-point lead with Alcester back to a full squad of players.
Alcester went close to scoring the game’s first try when Dwayne Cruickshank’s attempted flick pass to Mark Burrell drifted forwards.
And Cruickshank then produced a superb 50:22 kick which allowed Turner to crash over from a driving maul for an unconverted score.
The visitors had seven players missing from their victory last week with many forced to play outside of their preferred position.
And a missed tackle out on the wing allowed Old Wheats to score in the corner to take a narrow 8-5 lead into the break after Alcester were held up over the line from another driving maul at the end of the half.
Alcester were camped on the Old Wheats line at the start of the second period with the home side reduced to 14-men before Hopkins picked the ball up at the breakdown and powered over the line with Tom Burgess adding the conversion.
Old Wheats showed greater intensity thereafter, as both teams lost a player to the sin bin, before they finally struck to leave just a single point separating the two teams.
And after Jamie Harland made a try-saving tackle on the wing, Old Wheats were awarded a bizarre penalty by the referee who had heard comments from spectators on the sidelines.
The home side grabbed a third try late on to compound Alcester’s misery although the visitors did at least come away with a losing bonus point.
Alcester are next in action at home against Pinley on Saturday, November 5 with kick-off at 2.15pm at Kings Coughton.
