Sat 4 Nov 2023
Alcester returned to winning ways with a hard fought win over their opponents from the other end of the Saltway in a first ever meeting of these two sides in league rugby.
Playing up the slope in the first half Alcester took the lead inside 7 minutes when skipper Will Silk popped up in support of a fluent move by his backline. Ed Gough converted.
Droitwich hit back almost immediately with a try of their own to bring the score to 7-5.
The end to end nature of the game continued when Alcester doubled their score through hooker Max Biltcliffe after a driven line out, which Gough again converted.
With the home side in the ascendancy now skipper Will Silk doubled his personal try count, with an almost carbon copy score of his first, which Gough again converted for a 21-5 lead.
The visitors hit back just before half time with their second try scored under a pile of bodies which was converted for 21-12 and they nearly narrowed the gap further with an incisive break which was only halted by a tap tackle by Lewis Wright as the Droitwich attacker neared the line.
Droitwich were reduced to 14 players just before the break, when one of their second rows was yellow carded for an off the ball challenge.
Turning around 21-12 ahead at the break and now with the slope at their back, Alcester reclaimed the ascendancy but had to wait until 15 minutes in before increasing their lead, through no 8 Christian Rushton, celebrating his birthday, by securing his side’s bonus point try.
Midway through the half, the visitors scored their third try to narrow the score line to 26-17.
The end to end nature of the game continued with the home side now on top and a brilliant “no look” pass by Ed Gough set Lewis Wright free for a score his performance deserved. Gough again converted.
In the closing stages Droitwich pulled a further try back to complete the scoring at 33-22 and claim their own try scoring bonus point.
Alcester host another local side, Evesham on Saturday 11th November, kicking off at 2.15pm.
