Alcester leave their fightback too late - The Redditch Standard

Alcester leave their fightback too late

Redditch Editorial 11th Oct, 2018 Updated: 11th Oct, 2018   0

Manor Park 18 Alcester 10

Midlands Three West (South)

ALCESTER suffered a second successive defeat as they went home empty-handed from Nuneaton on Saturday.

There were several chances at both ends in a hard-fought first half but the only score was an unconverted try from the home side.




However, Manor Park were dominant in the early stages of the second half and scored two tries and a penalty to open an 18-0 advantage.

Alcester only started to find rhythm in their play in the last ten minutes, during which they scored tries through Louis Smith and Phil Birks, but it was too little, too late.


The Kings Coughton men play host to Old Leamingtonians in their next league game on October 20. Before that, a trip to Eccleshall awaits in the Midlands Senior Vase on Saturday.

THERE was a remarkable turnaround in form for Alcester 2nds who were 58-0 winners over Manor Park 2nds – a similar scoreline to ones they have been on the wrong end of over the past few weeks.

Being able to select arguably their strongest side of the season helped, which included hooker Tommy Harris and veteran Scott Carmichael, embarking on his 26th season of senior rugby.

It was Carmichael who led the scoring for his side, running in a hat-trick of tries from full-back. He opened the scoring and also ran in the last score of the first half, during which other tries came from prop Kyran Flynn, wing Luke Spencer and scrum-half Lewis Hopkins for a 25-0 lead at the break.

The most pleasing aspect of the half was the side’s commitment in defence, where they determinedly keep out Manor Park despite a sustained period of pressure from the visitors.

Playing down the slope in the second half, Hopkins scored his second try before Carmichael completed his hat-trick.

Cian Allen added the eighth try, running in from 70 yards after outpacing the cover defence before fellow back Jake Grainger crossed for the ninth and Spencer rounded off the scoring and completed a double for himself with a superb finish. Spencer converted four of the second half tries.

Alec Aulcott was named man of the match for his part in a front five which dominated possession, particularly at the scrum, where they took several against the head.

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