Sat 29 Nov 2025
Alcester returned to winning ways to consolidate their fourth placed standing in the league table, but they were made to withstand a spirited fight back by the visitors who trailed 31-10 early in the second half, but in the end matched their hosts five tries, with the conversions from the boot of Alcester skipper Ed Gough proving to be the difference between the two sides.
With the slope at their back in the first half, Alcester were in front in the sixth minute of the game. Following a solid attacking scrum, the home half backs moved the ball into the centres from where Josh O’Connor broke an attempted tackle to open the scoring. Gough converted.
Just after the quarter of an hour mark, Ledbury reduced the deficit. Their pack took a scrum against the head near the Alcester line, and from the base of it their number 8 picked up and dived over.
Within minutes the home side took play back down the field and elected to run a penalty that looked within kicking range and the chance was lost. Moments later they did the same thing again from another penalty opportunity, but this time scrum half Will Silk found number 8, Lewis Wright, who powered through gaps in the visiting defence to score under the posts. Gough again converted for a 14-5 lead.
On the half hour mark, Ledbury were reduced to fourteen men when one of their backs was somewhat unlucky to be yellow carded for what the referee adjudged to be a deliberate knock on. Alcester made the most of their numerical advantage however, once again electing to run a penalty within kicking range, from which man of the match prop, Ieuan Hopkin crashed over the line after several phases of Alcester pressure.
On the stroke of half time Alcester scored their fourth and bonus point try. O’Connor showed great strength to fend off two Ledbury defenders, whilst under pressure and when the ball was spun wide from the ensuing ruck, Lewis Wright found his way through the defence for his second score, which was the final meaningful act of the half and a 24-5 lead for his side at the break.
Now with the slope at their back in the second half, the Ledbury forwards began to dominate the tight exchanges, however Alcester felt aggrieved at the awarding of a line out to the visitors inside their own twenty-two, which from the touchline didn’t look to be out and from which the Herefordshire men scored from a dominant maul following a catch and drive.
To their credit, Alcester hit back with Wright claiming his hat trick try and Gough adding another conversion for a 31-10 lead.
The fiercely contested nature of the game took its toll on both teams with players carrying injuries having to be replaced, but the visitors’ changes seemed to galvanise them and with a quarter of the game left, their dominant pack scored a push over try.
Alcester were creaking defensively and the penalty count against them was totting up, which culminated in second row, Nigel Burrows, being yellow carded and when he was off the field, another powerful Ledbury scrum had the home side on the back foot, and their fly half dinked a kick through the retreating defence for his wing to score in the corner, to bring up a try bonus point score.
As Burrows came back to the play, the home side saw stand in skipper Hopkin yellow carded for persistent infringement by his team which meant that Alcester played the last twenty minutes a man down.
Ledbury scored another catch and drive try from a line out to make for a nervy last few minutes, but in the end Alcester held on to gain an important five points and keep their unbeaten home record intact.
Alcester visit Leamington on Saturday for more league action, whilst Alcester 2nds host Birmingham Exiles. Kick off for all games is 2.15pm.
