Redditch Sport
Alcester suffer big loss at Birmingham
8:00am Friday 3rd February 2012
Birmingham Civil Service 32 Alcester 3
ALCESTER are still searching for their first win of 2012 after being comprehensively beaten by Birmingham Civil Service in Midlands Four West (South).
The opening exchanges were tightly contested with both teams having chances despite neither being able to gain the upper hand.
Alcester, again without injured captain Stuart Fletcher, saw stand-in skipper Jack Horton and hooker Tom Harris gaining good ground against a bigger and much more experienced pack.
But it was the home side who took the lead by virtue of a huge penalty kick from the halfway line.
Alcester hit back with a penalty of their own through Tom Burgess and the score remained at 3-3 until the final play of the first-half, when the hosts managed to force over a five metre scrum for the game’s first try.
Unfortunately, this set the tone for a second-half in which Alcester’s pack capitulated.
The home side took full advantage and quickly forced their way into a winning lead as Alcester lacked the grit and determination for any kind of fightback. By the end of the game they were well beaten.
Things don’t get any easier for Alcester, who host league leaders Ledbury at Kings Coughton this Saturday (kick-off 2.15pm).
n Alcester seconds crashed out of the Warwickshire second XV Shield in comprehensive fashion going down 48-5 at Harbury.
A depleted side — Alcester only travelled with 15 players — were put to the sword by Harbury in a one-sided semi-final with veteran scrum-half Paul Taylor scoring the visitors only points.
The seconds return to league action this Saturday when they visit Pinley.
n Alcester under-15s claimed their first away win of the campaign despite not playing anywhere near their best when they defeated Harbury 12-0.
After weathering an early onslaught, the visitors took the lead with their first visit to the Harbury 22, centre Charlie Whiston exploited a gap in the home defence before converting his own try.
The next and final score of the game came from scrum half Smith after Charlie Putman had pinched a Harbury put in at the scrum.