Sun 27 Nov 2022, 15:00
Week 6 of the North Midlands Colts League saw Alcester host Old Halesonians at Kings Coughton.
This was Colts Head Coach, Keith Beech's first game in charge and what a game it would be.
Straight from the kick off, both teams went at it with maximum aggression but it would be the visiting team that would take first blood. With a well weighted kick across the pitch, which was taken at pace by Old Hales's 13, Alcester could only watch as the opposition scored an unconverted try 0-5.
Ordinarily this would see the lad's heads drop but not today. Playing up the hill Alcester went through the phases, protecting the ball at each break down, before moving it out to Freddie White, who crashed over for an unconverted score 5-5.
It was clear today that the Alcester lads had turned up and pressure at every Hales' pass started to see the visitors make mistakes and the resulting scrums being bossed by the Alcester pack.
The next score would be vital, as half time loomed and it would be Oli Pittaway that would take the home team into the lead, with another unconverted try 10-5, which is how it remained at the referee's whistle.
Keith's half time team talk called for the lads to maintain their structure and to continue to pressure the opposition, which is how they started and it would pay off, with Owen's first try in his first start to stretch the Alcester lead to 15-5.
This only spurred the visitors into action and they worked the ball out wide and scored in the corner, to bring the score to 15-10, showing that they were far from defeated.
With everything to lose the lads battled hard and were again rewarded with their 4th try and Oli Pittaway's second score of the day, extending their lead to 20-10 but in a thrilling game, the visitors would score a converted try to set up a nail biting finale 20-17.
Old Hales had the opportunity to level the game from a penalty but their kicker pushed the kick wide and the final nine minutes of the game saw both teams in a dog fight, with neither letting up but neither seizing the opportunity.
As the referee blew the final whistle it was clear to see what this win meant to the lads, as they all cheered and bounced around in a team huddle.
This was a well deserved bonus point win which has been coming for some time. Onwards and upwards lads!!
Full time Alcester 20 Old Halesonians 17
Men of the Match - Jakey Stephens-Smith and Adam Cave
