ALCESTER RFC made history as Ed Gough and Dwayne Cruickshank spearheaded a late comeback to help the club lift the Warwickshire Shield for the first time, writes Stan Mills.
The club ended their most successful season on the pitch with a thrilling 27-26 victory against Old Leamingtonians at the home of Nuneaton RFC.
Alcester trailed by nine points heading into the last quarter-hour only for Cruickshank to score a vital try before Ed Gough kicked a conversion and a penalty to snatch victory for the Kings Coughton club.
The game proved a fitting end for match-winner Gough who finished his career with silverware in his final outing before retirement.
With just over five minutes remaining, Alcester were awarded a penalty as Gough’s expertly-placed kick drifted through the uprights to put his side back ahead.
That came after Lewis Wright, Noah Birks and Jamie Harland had all scored tries for Alcester in a back-and-forth contest.
Old Leamingtonians lost two of their players to injury early on but still took the lead through a well-constructed score.
However, an incisive break from full back Harland saw the ball recycled to Wright who powered over with Gough just unable to add the extras.
And Birks then crashed over from close range after running a good line and Gough converted to put Alcester into the lead.
Old Leamingtonians responded with their second try shortly before half time as Alcester trailed by two points at the interval.
Alcester reclaimed the lead in the second half when Harland raced over in the corner just before the hour mark.
However, Old Leamingtonians scored back-to-back tries to take a nine-point lead in the final quarter of the game.
With the game slipping away, Cruickshank dotted down a crucial try to close the gap between the teams to two points.
And Gough kept his cool to kick a penalty five minutes from time to edge Alcester into the lead.
Alcester held firm in the remaining minutes to win the Warwickshire Shield for the first time in the club’s history some 29 years since their only other final appearance in the competition.
