Alcester 15 Harbury 10

IT may have taken three seasons to achieve but Alcester recorded an excellent first victory over their opponents from the division above.

Both sides used the opportunity of the break from the league campaign to blood fresh faces and, for the King's Coughton side, that meant four changes to the side that narrowly lost to Dunlop the previous Saturday.

The swirling wind made running rugby difficult but this was an entertaining game that saw Alcester score first and then come from behind to claim victory.

Playing up the slope in the first half, left wing Chris Hall gave Alcester an early lead with a clinical finish from a touchline-hugging run.

With the line-outs mostly a lottery in the wind, domination at the scrum became even more important and Alcester struggled against the visitors' heavier front row.

Harbury equalised with a try following a period of forward pressure and they then doubled their tally with another score midway through the half.

Despite remaining under pressure at the set phases, Alcester battled well in the loose and were rewarded with a debut score for former Colt Ollie Chester who has made the scrum half berth his own following a string of good performances. Chester had Robbie Parker to thank for his part in the try after the full-back hacked a loose ball forward for the youngster to pounce.

With the game tied at half-time and with the wind changing course to be behind Harbury in the second period, Alcester knew they had to keep the ball in hand.

The home scrum had been steadied providing more ball for the backs and much of the half was played in the visitors' territory.

Alcester went close on a number of occasions before right wing Stuart Whitehead finally went over.

Alcester defended resolutely when Harbury got near the home line, with flankers James Daffern and Keith Beech leading the way with some good tackles.

Despite influential skipper Nick O'Connor being forced to leave the field with a back injury, Alcester saw the game out to claim a good win, and to give them renewed confidence as they approach an important fortnight in their league campaign, starting with next week's visit to Coventry Welsh before the relegation battle with Nuneaton side Manor Park the following Saturday.

Alcester booked their place in tonight's semi-finals of the Warwickshire 20/20 Shield with a fine 22-0 victory over Shottery Shakers.

They must now overcome Leamington Lions at Stratford RFC (ko 7.30pm) to reach the final of this inaugural midweek competition.

Alcester no 8 Rich Stanford opened the scoring with a drive from the base of the scrum and his score was all that separated the sides at the break.

The second half belonged to Phoenix and centre Brett Allard doubled his side's lead after spotting a gap in the home defence.

Alcester's third try again came from the line-out, lock Andy Flynn diving over, with the pick of tries coming from speedster Stuart Whitehead, Ollie Chester kicking the conversion.