Sat 6 Sep 2025
Counties One Midlands West (South)
Alcester 68 Old Leamingtonians 0
Alcester made an excellent start to their league campaign with a ten try demolition of the visitors, in front of a crowd of over 200 at Kings Coughton. The scoreline was bolstered by 16 points from the boot of skipper Ed Gough in a faultless place-kicking display, with the only conversion missed when he was off the field at the end of the game.
With four players stepping up from last year’s 2nd XV, namely Morgan O’Dell, Freddie White, and the Birks brothers Toby and Noah, together with the returning Jamie Harland after two seasons out, there was a fresh feel to the side, but it took them no time at all to settle in and all of them played their part in an emphatic win, with 17 year old centre Noah Birks scoring two tries and claiming the man of the match accolade.
After a bright opening from the visitors, the home side claimed the ascendancy and flanker Christian Rushton opened the scoring with skipper Ed Gough adding the conversion.
On the half an hour mark, Alcester doubled their lead when Josh O’Connor crossed for a try after good work by prop Max Biltcliffe.
Wing Alex Chiles scored the red and blacks third try, also converted by Gough.
Jamie Harland scored his side’s fourth, and the bonus point try, after only being only the field for a few minutes, in his first appearance in three seasons, having had time away with work commitments. Gough added the extras.
Full back, Oscar Holland, another player enjoying a fine game, crossed for his side’s fifth try and when Gough added the conversion, it brought the scoring down on the first half and a 35-0 lead.
Playing down the slope in the second half, Alcester continued their domination of the game and no 8 Jack Green scored the first try of the half with Gough adding the conversion.
Lock Lewis Wright added the home side’s seventh try which Gough also converted.
Arguably the try of the game came courtesy of centre Noah Birks first score. Harland made a trademark break down field, before finally being hauled down inside the visitors twenty-two. His support came quickly behind him and the ball was smartly moved between several pairs of hands, both forwards and backs, before Birks powered over. Gough again converted.
Birks crossed for his second score of the game, which scrum half Will Silk converted, with Gough now off the field, before Christian Rushton got his second try of the game, but Silk missed with the conversion to leave the final score at 68-0.
Alcester welcome new league opponents in the shape of Kidderminster Carolians, to Kings Coughton, on Saturday for a 3pm kick off.
