Sat 20 Dec 2025
Neither side could claim the local derby bragging rights, after a topsy turvy game, which saw the lead change hands three times before the spoils were shared at the end.
In a game that was reversed to Alcester’s Kings Coughton ground on Saturday morning, because a flooded River Avon had claimed part of Evesham’s pitch, a hard-fought contest ensued on a sticky
pitch, but in otherwise good rugby conditions.
With the slope at their back in the first half Evesham took an early lead with a penalty kick which was converted, in off the post, but on the quarter of an hour mark, Alcester skipper, Ed Gough, levelled
the scores with a successful penalty kick of his own.
The home side remained in the ascendancy for the remainder of the half, but they had to wait until five minutes before half time to score the opening try of the game through top scorer Jamie Harland,
who finished off a backs move out wide, close to the Evesham line.
Alcester led 8-3 at the break, but all at Kings Coughton wondered whether they would be made to rue missed opportunities, because they were held up over the line on one occasion and missed two
other glorious chances to score tries, where wrong options were taken with the line beckoning.
After an even opening to the second half, this season’s top try scorer, Jamie Harland doubled both his and his side’s tally for the match with another well taken score, this time near the posts, allowing
Gough a straight forward conversion and a 15-3 lead for his side, ten minutes after the restart.
The visitors upped their game, and for the first time in the match took control of territory and possession for a sustained period, and they scored their first try to narrow the deficit to 15-8.
Shortly after the game resumed following the visitors’ try, the referee warned both captains about the high penalty account in the game, and when Alcester’s Josh O’Connor was next to infringe,
adjudged to have illegally jackled at a ruck, he was yellow carded.
Within three minutes, Evesham took full advantage of their numerical superiority to level the scores with a converted try, before taking the lead with a try from a driving maul, which was also
converted, to reclaim the lead for the first time since the opening minutes of the match.
When O’Connor returned he atoned for his absence by scoring his side’s third try, which again Gough converted to level the scores once more.
Despite both sides having chances to win the game, there were no further scores in the game and both sides had to settle for a draw.
Tight head, Dev Jacobs, making his first start for the club after a couple of replacement appearances since joining Alcester a few weeks ago, was nominated as man of the match, for a good all round
display, but in the main for shoring up a scrum which had been under pressure in recent weeks.
Alcester end the first half of the season in third place, and are next in action when the reverse fixtures begin when they visit Kidderminster Carolians on 10 th January.
