Alcester 12 Coventry Welsh 25

Warwickshire One

AFTER the improved performances of the last fortnight, which saw them only narrowly beaten at Manor Park and Evesham, Alcester took a step back with a poor showing against the league's runners-up for the last two seasons.

Starting down the slope, Alcester failed to get into their stride and although they won enough ball at the set phase, they wasted possession and were often second to the breakdown where the visitors dominated.

In addition, their normally reliable defence was shoddy and they were blown apart by some clinical finishing which saw them concede four tries.

When they did get an incisive break, they scored through outside centre Chris Hall, but it was right on the stroke of half-time, preventing any real momentum.

Alcester, trailing 22-7 at the break, knew they had to overhaul their first half performance to stand any chance of getting back into the game.

And although they conceded an early penalty, it was a far better display.

Indeed, the third quarter of the game belonged to Alcester, and with the home pack now on top at the scrum, the backs had more chances to launch assaults on the Welsh line.

Fly half Andy Smith finished smartly to keep his side in touch but it was the visitors who looked most likely to add to the scoreline in the final stages, only last ditch defending keeping them at bay.

Captain Nick O'Connor will look to rally his troops on the training ground this week ahead of the trip to Dunlop, notoriously one of the toughest fixtures of the season.

n The Seconds slumped to a heavy 40-10 defeat at Coventry Welsh but their plight was not helped when they made the trip with just 11 players.

Skipper Grant Skidmore was one of those injured and although they were loaned two players, the King's Coughton side still started two men down.

Amazingly they led the game thanks to a Stuart Potts try, converted by Darren O'Goolam, and a further O'Goolam penalty.

But second half was a one-sided contest as the home side made the greater numbers count.

n The Juniors played Ledbury at u13 and u14s.

The former eased to a 43-7 victory but the u14s had to work hard for what was an unexpected 21-19 win having borrowed two Ledbury players to make up their numbers.