Harbury 29 Alcester 3

ALCESTER slipped to defeat against their higher league opponents in a game that was a lot closer than the scoreline suggests.

Indeed the result might have been very different if Alcester weren't forced to play more than half the game with 14 men after diminutive flanker Keith Beech left the action with a head injury shortly before half-time.

Having travelled with only the bare 15 following late cry offs, Beech was unable to be replaced.

Alcester started brightly and went in front when full-back Darren Gwillym split the posts with a well-struck kick after the home side had infringed at a ruck.

With the Alcester forwards on top at the set piece, scrum-half Scott Carmichael enjoyed plenty of possession to set his backs free. However with some new faces in the back line and players operating out of position, their approach play was sometimes disjointed.

Harbury levelled with a penalty of their own before Beech left the field and the home side took the lead with a try on the stroke of half-time.

Harbury upped a gear in the second half and made changes in the forwards, which stabilised their scrum against the visitors' seven men up front.

Although Alcester had their moments, the second half was a struggle for them, as the extra man began to count and Harbury ran in three further tries, again aided by some at times, suspect defence.

Skipper Nick O'Connor took a lot of positives from the game ahead of next week's return to league action and the visit of Stoke Old Boys to King's Coughton (2.15pm) - a crucial game against the side one place above them in the table.