ALCESTER RFC claimed a first-ever league win against Camp Hill with a 38-12 bonus point victory in their opening game of the New Year.
A brace of tries from Ieuan Hopkin and further scores from Lewis Wright, Lewis Walker, Jamie Harland and Jack Green sealed a fine win for Alcester at Kings Coughton.
The result means Alcester sit second in the Counties 1 Midlands West (South) table.
Despite the final scoreline, Camp Hill scored the game’s first try after just five minutes to leave the home side stunned.
However, Alcester responded midway through the first half when Wright broke through three tackles on his way to the line and Ed Gough converted.
Camp Hill just failed to execute a drop goal attempt soon after while the home side lost full-back Oscar Holland to a head injury.
And Alcester then saw second row Nigel Burrows sent to the sin-bin to leave the hosts temporarily down to 14 players on the half-hour mark.
However, despite playing with a man less, Alcester took the lead when Hopkin spun out of a tackle to dot down and Gough added the extras.
And Walker scored his side’s third try shortly before the interval to send Alcester into the break with a 12-point lead.
Alcester picked up where they left off after the break as Harland scored the home side’s bonus point try early in the second period and Gough converted.
Camp Hill lost a player to the sin-bin later in the second half and the home side capitalised as Hopkin scored his second try of the game.
The visitors scored a second try when back to a full complement of players but played the remainder of the match with 14-men after the previously sin-binned player received a second yellow card.
And the home side completed the scoring when replacement Green scored with the final play of the game as Gough again added the extras.
Alcester are next in action against Droitwich on Saturday, January 24 with kick-off at 2.15pm at the Glyn Mitchell Memorial Ground.
Elsewhere, the club’s second XV suffered a 55-10 defeat against unbeaten league leaders Shipston-on-Stour II.
Alcester’s only points came courtesy of Pav Sembakutigge’s try and five points from the boot of Archie Beddard.
The visitors also lost scrum-half Joey Wheeler to a serious hip and pelvic injury which required hospital treatment and surgery.
