Depleted Alcester are edged out - The Redditch Standard

Depleted Alcester are edged out

Redditch Editorial 30th Jan, 2020   0

Burbage 12 Alcester 10

Midlands Three West (South)

ALCESTER dropped a place to eighth after suffering a frustratingly narrow defeat in Leicestershire on Saturday.

The game at Britannia Road was a case of what may have been for the visitors who found themselves depleted due to the absence of a few key players, meaning others were playing out of position.




Max Biltcliffe made his first ever start at hooker for Alcester despite his usual spot being in the back row.

Alcester took the lead through an Ed Gough penalty but not long afterwards they turned down another kickable penalty, attempting to go for a try, but possession was turned over.


The game was very scrappy and poor in quality from both sides. The penalty count was high but nothing more came of the first half as Alcester took a 3-0 lead into the break.

Alcester’s pack did well against a much bigger scrum from their Leicestershire opponents but, despite winning plenty of ball, the team did little to capitalise on it.

Burbage scored fairly early in the second half after their forward crashed over the whitewash after exploiting an Alcester mistake and the home side increased their lead on the 60-minute mark, leaving Alcester chasing the game.

Ben Hope gave his side some hope as he scored in the closing minutes of the game but, despite the conversion being successful, there was not enough time for Alcester to close the two-point gap and they had to settle for a losing bonus point.

Alcester welcome Coventry Welsh to Kings Coughton on Saturday when they expect a good turnout as they host their volunteers lunch.

The 2nd XV travel to Coventry Saracens after missing a week of playing due to a late cancelled fixture.

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