Alcester slip to narrow reverse (From Redditch Advertiser)

Alcester slip to narrow reverse

8:00am Thursday 4th October 2012 in Sport

Alcester 10, Atherstone 15

ALCESTER slipped to defeat at the hands of one of the pacesetters in the Midlands Four West (South) but a brave second-half fight did ensure a bonus point.

The visitors, who boast one of the strongest scrums at this level, dominated the set pieces throughout, and in the early stages of the game, it looked like Alcester’s young side might be overpowered as the visitors took the lead with try from a driving maul following a line-out.

The Kings Coughton men were forced to hang on for long periods of the opening half-hour.

However, when they did get the ball wide Alcester looked like they could find a way back into the match during the second period.

The Atherstone scrum remained the dominant aspect of their game and twice they drove the Alcester pack over the line from five metre scrums, only for home Phil Birks to brilliantly save two certain tries.

But Birks was then sin-binned when he was adjugded to have his hands in a ruck.

With one of Alcester’s main defensive weapons temporarily side lined, the hosts succumbed twice to their North Warwickshire visitors’ as they opened a 15-0 lead at half-time.

Alcester fought back and their pressure told as Atherstone saw then scrum-half sin-binned.

While he was absent, Alcester opened their account. Sam Fell was in the right place to pounce on a loose ball which had bobbled over the line.

The final quarter saw both defences remain resolute but Alcester were able to score once more.

In the final play of the game, when flanker Tom Barter reacted quickest to dive over.

Alcester take on Birmingham Civil Service away in the league on Saturday.

• The under-16s lost 31-15 to Earlsdon at Kings Coughton in their first game of the season.

The visitors took an early lead with a try but Dom Evans replied to finish off a slick Alcester move.

Two more touch downs put Earlsdon back in control but captain Josh Gordon pulled one back on the stroke of half-time.

Alcester pushed hard but two more tries ended their resistance, despite Kyran Flynn touching down for the hosts.