A DEPLETED Alcester RFC lost 34-10 defeat against local rivals Evesham to suffer just their second defeat of the season.
James Lampitt scored Alcester’s only try while Will Silk kicked a penalty and Dwayne Cruickshank added a conversion at Blind Lane.
The result means Alcester sit fifth in the Counties 1 Midlands West (South) table.
Alcester made five changes from the side which beat Droitwich while fly-half Ed Gough suffered a pre-match injury.
Evesham scored the game’s first try with a well-executed catch-and-drive at a lineout after Alcester were penalised for a high tackle.
And the home side struck again soon after to take an early 12-point lead.
Alcester reduced the deficit when Silk kicked a penalty after an Evesham player received a yellow card.
Evesham kicked a penalty at the start of the second half before Lampitt scored Alcester’s only try of the game in the corner and Cruickshank converted to close the gap to five points.
However, Evesham took the game out of Alcester’s reach with three further tries as injuries to Cruickshank and Sam Lear proved costly.
Evesham are next in action against Old Leamingtonians on Saturday, November 9 at Kings Coughton.
Elsewhere, Alcester’s second team beat Rugby St Andrews 2nds 31-5 to record their third win of the season.
Before the game, both sides held a minute’s silence in memory of long-time supporter and club stalwart Derek Broughton who recently passed away.
Alcester took the lead within 10 minutes when Noah Birks, who made his senior debut last weekend, scored on his second-team debut.
A strong finish from just inside the visitors’ half saw him power through several tackles to score under the posts as Freddie White converted.
And White scored Alcester’s second try after jinking his way through the defence before converting his own score.
White scored his second try soon after after Rugby failed to clear Rich Udell’s initial kick as the try scorer charged down the attempted clearance.
Rugby crossed for their only try after the break before Alcester’s veteran fly-half Glyn Smith scored his side’s bonus point try and James Walker completed the scoring with the game’s final try.
