Sat 13 Sep 2025
Counties One Midlands West (South)
Alcester 49 Kidderminster Carolians 5
Alcester made it two big home wins out of two, with victory in the first ever league meeting of the two sides at 1st XV level.
Playing up the slope in the first half, Alcester began to dominate possession but they were dealt an early blow when lock Lewis Wright had to leave the field with an injury. He was replaced by new signing Harvey Skinner for his club debut.
Despite retaining the ascendancy, the red and blacks had to wait until midway through the half to open the scoring, through Will Silk, which skipper Ed Gough converted.
On the half an hour mark, flanker Toby Birks scored his maiden 1st XV try which Gough converted from out wide, to double the lead.
With half time approaching, Alcester scored a quick fire try double to secure the try bonus point after Josh O’Connor crossed for the third try, following great work from Jamie Harland, and Max Biltcliffe added a fourth, with both tries converted by Gough.
With the slope at their back in the second half and with a healthy 28-0 lead, hopes were high of a repeat of last week’s demolition of Old Leamingtonians, but the visitors had other ideas and returned from the break with renewed purpose and scored the half’s first try out wide.
After a few minutes, Alcester settled back into their pattern and a speculative grubber kick by wing Alex Chiles set scrum half Silk, through for his second try, which Gough converted again.
Jack Green scored his side’s sixth try following a trademark powerful run, which Gough converted again before the visitors were reduced to fourteen players for ten minutes following the sin binning of a visiting defender for a deliberate knock on.
Before the close, the home side took full advantage of their extra player when Cruickshank scored his side’s seventh try, which Gough converted to maintain his 100% kicking record for both the game, and his season so far.
This was another good win for Alcester, with the only frustration being the try that was conceded and the fact they really should have won by a bigger score, with a further try that was disallowed for a forward pass in the run up to it and other missed opportunities.
Jamie Harland was nominated as man of the match on only his second game back, after two seasons away from the game, whilst Alcester said goodbye to back rower and former skipper Christian Rushton who is moving to Australia and forward Jake Stephens-Smith who is also down under for three months going travelling. Both players will be missed from this side.
Alcester are next in action on Saturday 4th October when they visit Shirley side, Camp Hill.
