Alcester crash to opening day loss (From Redditch Advertiser)

Alcester crash to opening day loss

3:00pm Saturday 22nd September 2012 in Sport

Coventrians, 34 Alcester 0

ALCESTER’S opening Midlands Four West (South) game of the season soon went up in smoke when they were reduced to 14 players within 15 minutes of the kick-off.

A reshuffle saw Alcester lose and shape and confidence as Coventrians quickly took advantage by running in two quick tries to build a 19-0 lead at half-time.

Heads dropped as Coventrians grew in confidence and never looked back from that point.

There were some plus points for Alcester as flanker Tom Barter produced a gutsy defensive display, backed up by skipper and fellow back-row partner Ben Hope.

Alcester gave first team debuts to Sam Shearn, Simon Gardener and Joey Cull, but in truth Alcester were well beaten and it was difficult to access how different the result would have been had they kept a full compliment of players on the pitch.

Instead Alcester will look to bounce straight back when they entertain Five Ways Old Edwardians this Saturday in the RFU Midlands Junior Vase.

l The seconds fared much better when beating Rugby St Andrews thirds 24-0 in Warwickshire Merit League Four.

James Woodhams ran in a two first-half tries, while number eight Phil Birks and centre Andy Chung also touched down.