Sat 5 Oct 2024, 15:00
With the 1st XV not in action this weekend, it was the 2nd XV’s turn to take centre stage at a dry and bright Kings Coughton.
Against a side that they comprehensively lost to twice last season, they gave a much-improved showing and were on top for good periods of the game, but were always chasing it from the ten-minute spell towards the end of the first half when Daventry scored three times without reply.
Alcester’s four tries included a hat trick from an unlikely source, prop Will Mitchell, as part of his all-round man of the match showing although the combined distance of his three scores was less than 5 meters!
Playing up the slope in an even opening to the first half, Alcester spurned a good chance to score when a forward pass, called play back just as the home side had the overlap out wide.
The visitors were being penalised consistently and finally lost their second row to a yellow card, but not before they had taken the lead through a penalty kick and a try for an 8-point advantage.
The teams exchanged converted tries whilst the visitors were still down a player, with Mitchell notching his first score which Freddie White converted, but when they were restored to the full contingent of players, Daventry scored two quick tries before half time to lead 25-7 at the break.
Alcester made personnel changes at the break, to give everyone game time, and with the slope at their back gained the early ascendancy in the half, despite their scrum being under pressure at the set piece.
They were guilty of kicking possession away too often, when they did have the ball, which prevented momentum, but when the visitors lost another player to the bin, Alcester did score again, with Mitchell crossing for his second, which was converted by Charlie Rose.
With their tails now firmly up, the comeback was definitely on, now only trailing 14-25, but they were rocked back when Daventry scored again when one of their backs intercepted a pass and raced in from his own half, although there was more than a hint of offside as he gathered the ball. The home side’s frustrations spilled over and replacement scrum half Joey Wheeler was yellow carded to make an already onerous task to get back in the game, more difficult.
Being reduced in numbers didn’t stop the Alcester domination of territory and second row, Will Gough, playing his first rugby of the season, once again narrowed the deficit with his side’s third try. Skipper Luke Spencer converted.
With time running out, the sides exchanged tries again, with Mitchell’s hat trick score for Alcester, following an excellent run from last week’s man of the match Ed Denby, enjoying another all-action display which saw him hauled down, by the defence just short of the line. Rose once again converted the try.
Alcester played the remainder of the game with fourteen me as no sooner that Wheeler had returned, Harry Roderick was yellow carded for an innocuous looking challenge on an opponent as they both went for a high ball.
Alcester 2nds next action is a trip to play Newbold on Avon on 19th October. Alcester 1st XV travel to Luctonians next week, hoping to end their 2nd XVs impressive run of 48 consecutive league wins.
