Alcester 25 Old Coventrians 24
Midlands Three West (South)
ALCESTER produced their best display of the season to recover from a 19-5 half-time deficit and secure a victory which makes it 11 points from the last three matches.
A second successive narrow win was sealed in thrilling fashion when Josh O’Connor scored a last-minute try.
The home side started brightly and controlled possession of the ball but were unable to capitalise on any real chances to score before an opportunity to take the lead was missed when a penalty kick was put wide of the posts.
Then, a miss-pass inside Alcester’s 22 was intercepted and Old Covs took the lead after their first try was run in from 80 metres out.
The visitors now had a spring in their step and soon crossed for their second try but Alcester reacted quickly with good continuity of possession and substitute O’Connor had only been on the pitch for a few minutes when he spotted a gap to score.
It was end to end stuff as Old Covs hit back and their first real sustained period of pressure and a missed defensive tackle contributed to their third try and saw them enter the break with a 19-5 lead.
Alcester started the second half much like the first and it was not long before Jamie Harland crossed the whitewash to close the gap but a few minutes later Old Coventrians had scored again.
However, as the game entered its closing stages, the intensity increased and Harland crossed for his second try and the pressure was on Old Covs as they received a yellow card for persistent infringement.
Then, in magnificent style, Alex Chiles made an excellent break to set O’Connor free on a recycled ball and cross for the winning score. Despite missing the conversion, the Red & Blacks had done enough to win the game by a single point.
Jamie Clarke was man of the match for sixth-placed Alcester, who return to league action at Old Leamingtonians on December 7.
Old Coventrians 2nds 20 Alcester 2nds 43
ANOTHER successful Alcester weekend was completed by the second team securing a convincing victory on the road.
Six Alcester tries were scored and a successful afternoon with the boot for Chris Howell took Alcester to the top of Warwickshire League Three.
Rupert Daffern and Dave Ashby crossed the whitewash and points from a conversion and a penalty kick were on the scoreboard before Old Covs got their first score.
The home side doubled their score before Alcester hit back again through Oliver Clarke’s first try.
Daffern and Clarke crossed for their second tries before Glyn Smith added to the final tally. Old Covs managed two more tries of their own but, with no successful conversions, they did not come close to Alcester’s final score.
Alcester 2nds face Shottery in a friendly this weekend.
