Alcester 0, Long Buckby 38 ALCESTER exited the National Vase competition in the second round after they were soundly beaten by their confident and well-drilled visitors from Northamptonshire.

Long Buckby ensured they continued their unbeaten start to the season as they scored their first try in the opening minute of the match.

The Kings Coughton outfit, who were missing a number of players including captain Joe Sears, struggled to get out of their own half in the opening exchanges and the game was over as a contest inside the first quarter with Alcester three tries and 19 points down.

The home side were dealt a further blow when Jack Green suffered a dead leg in a heavy tackle and was replaced by Ryan Clarke, with Steve Mason moving to centre and Jamie Clarke to full back in the reshuffle.

The Northamptonshire men scored twice more before the break to lead 33-0 at half-time and the situation could have been worse for Alcester, had flanker Ben Hope not made a superb try saving tackle on a Long Buckby back who had broken clear and had nearly reached the line.

The introduction from the bench of former club skippers Phil Birks and Stuart Fletcher, both returning from injury, brought direction and physicality to the Alcester pack and helped stem the tide of green assaults on the home line either side of half-time, but the game was lost by now with Alcester playing only for pride and preparation for next week’s big league derby trip to Claverdon.

Alcester proved to be more determined in the second half and while Buckby scored a fifth try the game was much closer.

The final 15 minutes of the game were played in a torrential downpour with Alcester camped on the Long Buckby line Alcester will be hoping to bounce back when they visit old rivals Claverdon in the Midlands Division Four West (South) (3pm ko).

n The seconds were edged out 14-12 by Kings Nortons thirds, despite tries for Rupe Daffern and skipper Steve Green.

But fly-half Jamie Randall only converted one of the two scores which in the end proved to be the difference between the two sides.

The injury hit under-17s Colts were beaten 29-3 by Berkswell and Balsall.

Alcester under-15s saw off Harbury 25-15, with Tom Goddard bagging a hat-trick.

The club are holding their annual bonfire and fireworks display at their King’s Coughton home on Friday, November 1. The bonfire will be lit at 7.30pm, with the fireworks display beginning at 8pm.

Entrance is £5 per adult and £3 for children aged to 16, with under-5s free.