Sat 4 Oct 2025
Camp Hill 48 Alcester 24
Alcester slipped to their first league defeat of the season, against a powerful Camp Hill side that laid the platform for their victory with a dominant performance by their forwards.
Showing several injury and availability forced changes to their line up from the last league outing, Alcester handed 1st XV debuts to the latest products of the junior section to make the step up, in teenage hooker, Ed Denby as well as fellow youngster, Ethan Moll, in the second row. They were also pleased to welcome back Owen Binns for his first start of the season in the back line.
Camp Hill made a strong start, and took the lead inside five minutes, after being the first to dive on the ball over the line after a chip ahead.
Alcester hit back quickly and Josh O’Connor levelled the scores with his side’s first try. In difficult kicking conditions in the strong wind, the conversion for both opening tries were unsuccessful.
The busy start to the game continued and Camp Hill scored their second try with less than a quarter of hour on the clock, before five minutes later they scored their third try following a powerful driving maul which was converted for a 17-10 lead.
The home side scored their fourth and bonus point try, on the half hour mark, as the game looked to be getting away from the visitors.
To their credit, the visitors kept plugging away and on the stroke of half time, Max Biltcliffe crossed for Alcester’s second try, which skipper Ed Gough narrowly failed to convert, as his kick bounced off the upright.
The first score of the second half was going to be crucial for Alcester to claw their way back into the game, but the home side had other ideas, and within five minutes of the restart they had scored their fifth try after another barrelling finish by one of their forwards.
The visitors didn’t let their heads drop and within three minutes had narrowed the deficit once more after good work from Josh O’Connor and a trademark dummy, had set his centre partner Jamie Harland clear to score. Ed Gough added the conversion for a 29-17 score line.
Every time Alcester looked like they might find a way back into the game, the home side thwarted any hope of that and within two minutes had restored their three score advantage with another try.
Midway through the half, Camp Hill were down to fourteen players after they lost a player to the bin for an infringement at a ruck and after a period of pressure, Alcester took full advantage to record their bonus point score, through the returning Owen Binns, which Gough converted to bring the score line to 34-24.
Unfortunately for Alcester, that is as good as it got, as Camp Hill made the score line look more comprehensive with two late converted tries and a find score line of 48-24.
Alcester return to action on Saturday when they host Droitwich in the “Saltway Derby” for a 3pm kick off. Before the game the club’s two Walking Rugby teams meet for a 1pm kick off, as a curtain raiser to the 1st XV game.
