ALCESTER 12, REDDITCH 17

REDDITCH soothed their own relegation worries with a win that left local rivals Alcester needing a big turn around in results to ease their own fears of the drop.

There was very little to choose between the teams and on another day the result may well have been different.

The home team came out of the blocks and Meka Pieri crashed over for a try.

But the Kingfishers went into half-time with a 7-5 lead after Paul Barnett powered over the line and Tom Saddington added the extras.

Immediately after the break, Redditch extended their lead when Saddington to take stepped his way through the ten channel to score under the posts.

Alcester came back strongly towards the end of the game, with captain Joe Sears going over and Tom Alder kicking the conversion.

Saddington ensured a hard fought victory with a penalty.

Victory means Redditch are mid-table, while second from bottom Alcester are five points behind Stoke Old Boys having played three more games.

Redditch's next league game is at home to Atherstone on March 22, while Alcester go to bottom side Birmingham Civil Service on Saturday.

They scored an excellent try with some great inter passing between forwards and backs, but they will regret the points they missed from the boot. Two penalties within kickable range were sliced wide and Redditch rubbed salt into the wounds by scoring one of their own.

Redditch Exiles defeatede Dudley Kingswinford Vets 31-12.

Alcester seconds lost 13-6 to Atherstone in the Warwickshire 2nd XV Shield Final.

In a full blooded contest, which saw five yellow cards awarded across the sides and against a much bigger and more experienced set of opponents, Alcester did well to earn their fair share of possession throughout the game.

After going behind to an Atherstone try, Alcester hit back and two Sean Sudworth penalties gave the red and blacks a 6-5 half-time lead but the Adders scored a converted try.

Alcester's under-17s lost 15-10 to Bournville, despite tries for Kyran Flynn and Fred Badham. The under-15s suffered a 34-0 loss to Leamington.