Sat 30 Aug 2025, 15:00
Alcester 2nd XV 29 Redditch 12
A strong Alcester 2nd XV warmed up for their inaugural season in the main RFU league structure, with a local derby win, in an all too rare these days, meeting with their nearest neighbours, in a game that saw the first playing for several years, for The Firefighters Trophy.
The match had a scoreless opening quarter, until the visitors struck first with a try, before Freddie White scored for the second pre-season game in succession for Alcester to level the scores.
Alcester’s squad were bolstered by five players who are likely to feature in the 1st XV when league action resumes on 6th September, and two of those, Oscar Holland and Alex Chiles, linked well to send Noah Birks free to score his side’s second try and put the red and blacks in front 12-5 at the break, after the try was converted.
Another one of Alcester’s likely 1st XV contingent, last year’s player’s player of the season, Ieuan Hopkin, scored his side’s third try before the game was stopped for a short while for everyone to get their calculators out, when it was pointed out that Redditch had been playing with sixteen players for a short period, shortly after the visitors had scored their second try, which was converted, to narrow the scores to 17-12.
Hopkin powered over for his second score to restore Alcester’s healthy lead, a try which Luke Spencer converted, but not before the ball had bounced off both the upright and the crossbar on its way over.
In the closing stages, Hopkin scored his hat trick try to close the scoring for the game out.
All three senior Alcester sides are in action next weekend. Alcester 1st XV host Old Leamingtonians in the opening league match of the season, whilst the side’s 2nd XVs meet each other in a Counties Four Midlands West (East) league fixture, with both games kicking off on Saturday 6th September at 3pm. Before then, at Kings Coughton, the Walking Rugby sides meet at 1pm in a curtain raiser to the 1st XV game.
On Sunday 7th, Alcester 3rd XV visit a combined Shottery/Reykjavik Raiders side for a 2.15pm kick off at Stratford, in a game that forms part of the Icelandic side’s tour to England.
