Sat 9 Nov 2024
Alcester 1st XV 58 v 5 Old Leamingtonians 1st XV
After the disappointment at Evesham last time out, Alcester returned to winning ways with a resounding nine try victory over Old Leamingtonians, a result that with others previously below them gaining points, leaves the visitors at the foot of the table.
Starting up the slope, the home side started brightly and dominated possession in the opening minutes of the game. Play was moved swiftly from side to side and full back Dwayne Cruickshank opened the scoring, taking advantage of a long pass by scrum half Will Silk which took out two Old Leamingtonians defenders.
With less than ten minutes of the game gone, Alcester doubled their lead through a smartly taken score by centre Oscar Holland. Cruickshank converted the try.
The home side continued in the ascendancy and just past the quarter of an hour mark, skipper Christian Rushton picked up and dived over from short range, after a strong run from Josh O’Connor had brought play close to the visitor’s line.
The game was only just a quarter of the way through when Alcester registered their fourth and bonus point try. Cruickshank doubled his own account and converted his own try, for a 24-0 lead.
Old Leamingtonians enjoyed their best period of the game in the run up to half time and they were assisted by some missed tackles in the Alcester defence, as the visitors got points on the board with a try.
In response, Cruickshank kicked a penalty for a 27-5 half time lead, after the visitors were forced to infringe to stop a powerful run from prop Ieuan Hopkin.
Turning around with the slope at their back in the second half, the red and blacks were soon back in the ascendancy and Will Silk added a fifth try after being set free by a strong run from Jack Green. Cruickshank converted the score.
Shortly afterwards, another powerful run by Josh O’Connor and a superb offload, put wing Mark Burrell in for his side’s sixth try and a 39-5 lead.
Alcester were winning the battle of the breakdown, and Old Leamingtonians were penalised on a number of occasions for ruck infringements, which up until now prevented any real continuity to their play.
Substitute Pav Sembakuttige came on for Louis Smith and he was instrumental in the defensive effort to keep the visitors out, as they finally got some possession and territory in the second half.
Old Leamingtonians came close to scoring on two occasions in a sustained period of pressure on the home line, but soon after Alcester regained control again, and swift hands through the backs sent Oscar Holland in for his second try.
Now into the final quarter of the game, the red and blacks were dealt a big injury blow when Cruikshank was forced off with a shoulder injury, but it did little to stop their domination and after two really good opportunities were spurned by Alcester, Josh O’Connor crossed for his side’s eighth try which Mark Burrell took over the kicking duties to convert.
Burrell scored his second try in the closing stages of the game, profiting from a superb side step and offload into space by Jack Green. Burrell converted his own try to leave the final score at 58-5.
Alcester lie in fifth place in the league table and are one of four teams to have won six out of their eight league games and who are separated by bonus points. They travel to one of the other sides with an identical record, third placed Camp Hill, on 16th November. Kick off in Shirley is 2.15pm.
