Sat 10 Jan 2026
In one of only a handful of local games to survive the wintry conditions, and with their 1st XV game called off the previous evening, Alcester 2nd XV took centre stage and full advantage of arguably the strongest line up they have been able to field this season, to make an excellent start to the New Year, with a nine try victory over their opponents, completing the league double over them in the process. Centre Lewis Walker, led the try scoring with a hat trick of scores, whilst Pav Sembakuttige and Owen Binns both scored braces, and Jamie Clarke and Richie Beddard also both crossed the line.
Full back Archie Beddard added seven conversions and a first half penalty, for a personal points tally of seventeen, from his boot.
Amongst those making themselves available for the first outing of 2026, were former 1st XV regular, Louis Smith, who made his first appearance of the season and Alcester were further bolstered by the return to action of skipper Luke Spencer, who came on as a second half substitute, after several weeks out with injury.
Playing up the slope in the first half, Alcester opened the scoring through Lewis Walker, which Beddard converted, but the visitors were next to score, electing to kick a penalty opportunity to put themselves on the board.
Jamie Clarke added his side’s second try, before Archie Beddard added a penalty for a 15-3 half time lead, which probably should have been more, given the home side’s dominance, but they wasted some chances they had created.
With the slope at their back in the second half, there was more fluency to Alcester’s play and they cut loose to score their third and fourth tries, to earn the try bonus point, before adding five more to give the scoreline a very comprehensive look.
To the visitor’s credit, they made Alcester work for everything they got and defended resolutely, particularly their outside centre, who put a number of thunderous hits on Alcester players, with his opposite centre numbers, Alcester centres Jamie Clarke and Lewis Walker, on the end of a number of his tackles.
Alcester will be looking to keep similar player availability next week, as they face a significant step up in task, when they visit Shipston 2nd XV, who are unbeaten in the league this season and lie in second place in the league table, with a game in hand on the leaders, Newbold.
Alcester 1st XV are also back in action when they host Camp Hill. Both games kick off at 2.15pm.
