Alcester 17 Bournville 2nd XV 24
ALCESTER enjoyed a good workout on Saturday when they used a break from league action to face Bournville for the second time this season.
However, after winning convincingly in Birmingham last month, this was a much tougher encounter for Alcester.
The two teams were evenly matched, divided only by a late interception try for the visitors when one of their centres ran the full length of the field to score the winner.
Injuries to a number of regular first-teamers gave Colt Harry Adams the opportunity to make his Alcester first team debut at scrum half. Michael Nason returned to the team at flanker for his first game for more than a month and prop Sam Lear was back after a bout of illness.
Going downhill, the visitors took the lead following a tightly contested first quarter before Alcester struck back with a superb try finished off by winger Lewis Walker following an excellent flowing attack.
At 12-5 down at half time, Alcester stepped up the intensity and were rewarded with two tries in quick succession scored by skipper Jack Green and flanker Ben Hope.
Fly half Max Biltcliffe converted Hope’s try to put the home side 17-10 up.
A charging run from prop Sam Lear almost settled the game but the supporting reinforcements were held up just short of the line.
The visitors came back into the game well in the final quarter and levelled the score with a converted try of their own.
Camped on Bournville’s try-line, Alcester looked the most likely to score and win the game at the death before a pass to unlock an overlap was intercepted by the Bournville number 12 who ran the length of the pitch to score and win the game for his team.
This was Alcester’s first defeat for three months and they will quickly hope to put it behind them when they return to Midlands Four West (South) action on Saturday (2.15pm) with the local derby at an improving Claverdon.
The Lions go into the game on the back of an impressive victory at third placed Stoke Old Boys, so leaders Alcester are likely to need to perform at their best to extend their winning league run to 11 matches.
Alcester 2nd XV 39 Woodrush 2nd XV 11
ALCESTER 2nds followed up their Warwickshire Shield semi-final success with a good win against their visitors from Wythall.
Prop Jordan Nixon marked his first start of the season with a hat-trick of tries, Matt Ashby added two tries of his own and a conversion, whilst Matt Alderman and George Green both also crossed the line.
Veteran scrum half Paul Taylor added the other conversion, whilst the visitors’ points came from a try and two penalty kicks.
Alcester 2nds entertain Claverdon on Saturday.
