Alcester no match for Civil Service (From Redditch Advertiser)

Alcester no match for Civil Service

4:00pm Monday 14th January 2013 in Sport

Alcester 7, Birmingham Civil Service 31

ALCESTER made a losing start to 2013 in the Midlands Division Four West (South) as the visitors from Birmingham moved to joint second.

Despite defeat, the Kings Coughton side remain third from bottom after basement boys Keresley and Warwickian drew 14-14.

Alcester started the game playing up the slope and into the breeze, but held their own for the first quarter of an hour and had the first chance to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty just inside their opponents’ half.

Fly half Jamie Randall took on the long range effort at goal and although his accuracy was good, he didn’t have the power to get the better of the elements against him.

Slowly the much bigger and more experienced visitors started to get a stranglehold of the game, particularly up front and their forwards contributed all three tries in the first half as the Birmingham side took a 21-0 lead into the break.

Alcester introduced Robbie Parker at scrum-half in the second half and the veteran speedster added much needed zest to the home attack.

After a period of sustained pressure near the visitors’ line without any real clear cut scoring chances, the hosts were rocked back by a fourth Civil Service score, which earned them a bonus point and ended any realistic chance of a home come back.

The home team kept plugging away and they were rewarded with a try by Parker, which was converted by Randall.

But the visitors crossed for a fifth score in the closing stages, to run out clear winners.

Alcester have a break from league action but will take on Birmingham Medical Students in a highly anticipated annual friendly clash on Saturday (2.15pm ko).

Meanwhile, the seconds went down 36-0 to Bedworth’s thirds team.

Alcester’s under-16s lost 29-10 to Witney, despite tries for Dom Evans and Alex Chiles. The under-13s defeated Breden 39-10.

Former Ireland international Kevin Maggs will be at Alcester on the evening of Friday, March 29.

There will also be a dinner and tickets, priced £20 each, can be obtained from the clubhouse. Anyone who wants more information can call 01789 764061.