Alcester 5

Manor Park 0

ALCESTER recorded only their third win of the season to progress to the second round of the competition after a close and hard-fought contest against their Nuneaton visitors.

The home side started brightly and after a missed penalty attempt from full-back Andy Smith, they went in front in the opening 10 minutes thanks to Scott Carmichael's try after a period of forward pressure near the visitors' line.

The remainder of the half was evenly fought, despite the visitors playing 10 minutes of it with just 14 men after their veteran hooker was sin binned for a dangerously high tackle.

The second half started in a similar vein, although the visitors bolstered their pack with two half-time substitutions allowing more stability in their scrum which had struggled to contain Alcester's eight in the first half.

This allowed Manor Park to get on top for a 10 minute spell which they spent deep in Alcester territory. It needed some resolute defending by the home side kept them from crossing the line.

During this time Alcester flanker Keith Beech was sent to the sin bin after the referee lost patience with the home side for persistent infringements at the ruck.

When Beech returned, it was Alcester's turn to camp on their opponents' line but, like so many times of late, they failed to turn their domination into points.

This ensured a nervy ending, particularly as they were reduced to 14 men again for the final five minutes after lock Andy Flynn was yellow carded for over aggressive rucking.

The final minute saw the visitors have their best scoring chance when they went down the right only to be stopped short of the line. The visiting pack joined the attack and their replacement tight head prop took the ball on the burst and headed for the line only to met with a great tackle from Carmichael who not only stopped his man, but succeeded in ripping the ball from his opponent allowing the home side to clear the danger and claim the victory.

With this game being re-arranged after the postponement of the original date prior to Christmas, Alcester's scheduled opponents Birmingham Medics will now visit in March.

Alcester return to league action on Saturday with a visit to Warwickshire One opponents Rugby St Andrews, a side they narrowly lost to in November.

Alcester 2nds beat Birmingham Medics 2nds 23-14, Dave Wakelam scoring a brace of tries, while the Veterans lost 19-3 at home to Stourbridge 5ths.