Chaddersley Corbett 12 Alcester 25

ALCESTER took advantage of the break in league action to tackle Chaddersley Corbett and record a useful friendly win ahead of a return to their Midlands Division Four duties at third-placed Keresley.

A much-changed pack, with several of their bigger forwards unavailable or injured, saw Matt Alderman stepping up into the front row for his first game at prop and Matt Johnson starting his first first team game alongside his younger brother Ed.

Alcester started well and within minutes were ahead when George Green powered over to score the first try of the game from close range.

Fly half Glynn Smith made it 8-0 with a penalty soon afterwards as the home side found themselves under pressure in the early stages.

Chaddersley managed to claw themselves back into the match with a forward’s try as Alcester’s scrum was beginning to creak.

Out wide though, away fly half Smith reacted quickest to take a quick penalty close to the opposing line and wriggled through for a fine try.

Alcester went into half-time leading 13-8 leading half-time, but faced the prospect of playing up hill.

Substitute flanker Josh Eborall, returning from a lengthy injury break, added aggression to the Alcester pack, and with lock George Green and number eight James Skinner driving forward time and time again. Alcester dominated the third quarter.

Centre Jamie Clarke finished off an excellent set piece move off a line out to extend the visitor’s lead, while Smith added the extra points.

Winger Ryan Clark then turned the home defence inside out to score the try of the day and put his team 25-5 ahead.

A shoulder injury forced Skinner off the pitch with 10 minutes to go, but he’d already done enough to be named the man of the match for his rampaging display.

The home side got one try back towards the end of the game to make the final score 25-12 to Alcester and end a useful workout for the King’s Coughton men.

Meanwhile, the under-16s were edged out 27-24 by Nuneaton in a nine-try thriller.

The game was close, with both teams locked at 10-10 by half-time.

Callum Wright (2), Cameron Hinckley and Jack Baldwin bagged touch downs as Alcester cut down Nuneaton’s lead to three points but .

Josh O’Connor added a conversion as Nuneaton held on for a narrow victory.