ALCESTER RFC lost at home for the first time this season following a 35-17 defeat against unbeaten league leaders Worcester.
After Worcester raced into a 21-point lead, Josh O’Connor cut the deficit with Alcester’s first try of the game at Kings Coughton.
Further tries from Lewis Walker and Nigel Burrows kept the home side in the contest after Worcester crossed for their bonus point try.
However, the visitors scored a fifth try late on to put an end to the home side’s comeback hopes.
The result means Alcester sit third in the Counties 1 Midlands West (South) table.
Worcester came into the clash having won all 16 of their league games this season and duly scored three unanswered tries to take a commanding lead.
However, O’Connor powered over before the interval to reduce the deficit at half time.
Worcester responded with their bonus point try at the start of the second period after Alcester spilled the restart.
The home side applied sustained pressure to the Worcester line which ended with the away side losing a player to the sin-bin for repeated infringements.
And Alcester made the most of the extra man as Walker crossed for the home side’s second try out wide almost immediately.
Worcester returned to a full contingent only for Burrows to power over from close range following a ruck with the gap between the sides reduced to 11 points.
However, the visitors eventually sealed the points despite Alcester pressure as Worcester crossed for the game’s final try while the hosts lost Toby Birks to the sin-bin late on.
Alcester are next in action against Bromyard on Saturday, March 14 with kick-off at 3pm at Kings Coughton.
Elsewhere, the club’s second XI exacted revenge on Old Saltleians 2nds to claim a 40-29 victory.
Early tries from Pavan Sembakuttige and Freddie White saw Alcester race into a 14-point lead inside the first 10 minutes.
And Sembakuttige crossed for his second try later in the half as the visitors took a commanding 21-point advantage.
Old Saltleians eventually troubled the scoreboard only for White to dot down Alcester’s bonus point try before the break.
A breakaway try from Joel Barker settled any second-half nerves for the visitors only for Old Saltleians to cross for two quickfire tries.
However, White scored the game’s final try to complete his hat-trick which denied the hosts a losing bonus point.
