ALCESTER RFC kept the pressure on league leaders Manor Park with a tense 36-22 bonus point victory away at Southam to secure a fifth successive win.
Mark Burrell crossed twice for Alcester as Harry Wylie, Jamie Clarke, Jamie Harland and Ed Gough all touched down to keep the Kings Coughton club’s title hopes alive at Kineton Road.
The result means Alcester remain two points behind leaders Manor Park in the Counties 2 Midlands West (South) table with two matches left to play which includes a potential title decider between the two clubs in the final game of the season.
Southam made a fast start and took an early seven-point lead only for Alcester to level as the ball was worked out wide for Wylie to score, converted by Gough who started the move with a superb cross-field kick to Burrell.
However, the home side reclaimed the lead with an unconverted score as Alcester were forced to level for a second time when Burrell and Clarke combined well which ended with the latter dotting down from the former’s offload to send the teams in level at 12-apiece at the break.
The visitors crossed for two quickfire tries at the start of the second period as Burrell and Harland both scored with Gough converting one of the tries.
Southam hit back with an unconverted try only for Alcester to cross again through Burrell’s second of the game as the home side refused to go away with their bonus point try.
However, Alcester sealed the points when Gough scored and converted his own try to round off a fine individual and team performance.
Alcester are next in action at home to Tenbury on Saturday, March 11 with kick-off at 3pm at Kings Coughton.
Elsewhere, Alcester’s second XV once again played a replacement team after their original opponents pulled out of the fixture.
Camp Hill made the journey from their Shirley base and contributed to an entertaining contest that was played in excellent spirit.
The visitors took the lead inside the first few minutes of the game, before Alcester were dealt a double injury blow with both Dave Alldred and Ollie Pittaway forced off before the game was 10 minutes old.
However, Alcester’s fortunes improved when Tony Burke scored their first try, before Camp Hill reclaimed the lead with their second score.
Alcester veteran Paul Taylor made his annual comeback from retirement to clean up scrappy ball from a lineout and popped a pass to Elliott Evans who powered through a tackle to score.
And Evans doubled his try tally shortly after with a brilliant solo effort following a mazy run from just inside the Camp Hill half with Sam Fell converting to send the home team into the break with a 17-10 lead.
Burke was next to score his second try early in the second half before Phil Birks increased Alcester’s lead with his side’s fifth try.
The visitors fought until the final whistle and scored the game’s last try as Alcester ran out 27-17 winners.
