Alcester RFC Veterans Men
Alcester RFC Veterans Men
A fixture that was in doubt in midweek as initially Evesham were unable to field a side, eventually went ahead when both of the visitor’s 1st and 2nd XV fixtures were cancelled, and they were able to bolster their numbers with available players.
In the end two “loaded” 3rd XV’s took the field for an early kick off at 12pm to allow the Six Nations internationals to be watched, with both sides taking the opportunity to make this a whole club fixture with representation from all three senior sides, in the line-ups.
It was one of Alcester’s 1st XV players, Jack Green, who has had to be content with appearances from the bench recently after some injury concerns, that turned out to be his side’s match winner, scoring all of his side’s four tries.
Playing down the slope in the first half, the visitors dominated the opening quarter and they took the lead when their left winger took advantage of a clever cross field kick from their fly half.
Evesham remained the ascendancy for the remainder of the half and after a loose Alcester kicked clearance was gathered by an opposition attacker, he ran in through two weak home tackles on his way to the line, to leave his side 10-0 ahead at the break.
The visitors continued to have the better of things at the start of the second half and after they were held up over the line ten minutes into the second half, they scored again shortly afterwards when an Evesham attacker took advantage of some slow home defence to pounce on the ball over the line, following another clever kick ahead. The conversion put the visitors 17 points ahead.
Almost immediately, Alcester responded with Jack Green’s first try, before he doubled his account five minutes later to put his side firmly back in the game. Steve Downes converted the second try.
Now with their tails up and in the ascendancy for the first sustained period of the game, the comeback looked on for Alcester and when Green scored his hattrick with ten minutes remaining and Downes again converted, the red and blacks were ahead for the first time in the game.
Green rounded the scoring off in the final few minutes of the game, before departing proceedings early, with his job well and truly done, to leave the final score at 24-17.
As well as match winner, Jack Green, skipper Sam Fell singled out the performance of prop Alec Aucott, who was prominent with his ball carrying all afternoon and went on one particularly lengthy run to create another attack for his side.
Alcester 3rd XV are next in action on 7th March. In the meantime, Alcester’s 1st and 2nd XVs return to league action on Saturday 28th February, with the 1sts away at Coventry side Earlsdon, whilst the 2nds entertain high fliers, Harbury. Kick offs for both games is 2.15pm.
