Manor Park 29 Alcester 49
Alcester completed a rare league double over their long-time adversaries with an excellent away win in Nuneaton, a result which consolidates their second-place position in the league table, following Camp Hill’s defeat at Ledbury.
In a game that was played in weather conditions that threw out all four seasons at times during the eighty minutes, the visitors outscored their hosts by seven tries to five, with skipper Ed Gough giving a faultless display of place kicking, in converting all tries in less than favourable conditions. In fact, man of the match Gough helped himself to just under half of Alcester’s points, as he added two tries for a personal tally of twenty-four in the game.
The hosts started well and thought they had scored in the opening moments of the game, but they were denied by a foot in touch, before the visitors went in front on seven minutes when Will Silk, operating in an unfamiliar position on the flank, opened the scoring After Gough’s successful conversion of the try, his side were 7-0 ahead.
Manor Park hit back with their first score on thirteen minutes, before the end-to-end nature opening of the game continued, when Jamie Harland put his side back in front with a try and a 14-7 lead.
With the home pack on top at scrum time, Manor Park profited and they levelled the scores again with their second try on the half an hour mark, before four minutes later, Ed Gough scored his first try under the posts giving him his most straight forward conversion of the game and to leave his side 21-14 ahead at the break.
The second half was only two minutes old when a break by full back, Dwayne Cruickshank took him most of the length of the field, before he was eventually tackled, but he offloaded to Josh O’Connor up in support who scored under the posts for Alcester’s bonus point try, to put the visitors two scores ahead in the game for the first time.
Manor Park hit back virtually straight away, with their third try, but their conversion kick was missed and the scoreline stood at 28-19 in Alcester’s favour.
The game continued to be open, and Lewis Wright blasted his way through tackles for his side’s fifth try, before the visitors were pegged back again with a fourth and bonus point score for the home side to leave Alcester 35-24 ahead.
Manor Park were reduced to fourteen men after a yellow card for an infringement, as the game entered the final quarter and Alcester profited with their sixth try to make the game safe, thanks to a Ieuan Hopkin score.
Gough ran in his second try after receiving a pass following a powerful run from the base of the scrum by no 8 Jack Green, before it was the visitors turn to play a man down, when veteran forward, Phil Birks, featuring in the same side again today as his son’s Noah and Toby, was sent to the sin bin for killing the ball near the try line as the home side attacked. Manor Park took full advantage of their numerical supremacy to score their fifth try and leave the final score at 49-29 for Alcester.
This was a superb win for the Kings Coughton men, at a ground where they have often struggled over the years. Their final two games are also on the road starting with a trip to neighbours Evesham on Saturday 18th April. Games between the two sides are always keenly fought, and the reverse fixture earlier in the season ended in a draw.
Alcester 2nds are also back in league action when they make the trip to meet Silhillians 2nds.
