Sat 31 Jan 2026
Alcester ground out a win against their determined hosts, who led until midway through the second half before Alcester managed to wrestle control.
In front of their assembled President’s Lunch guests, Kidderminster started brightest and were in front with their opening try on six minutes which was converted for a 7-0 lead.
The home side, who have been rewarded for their efforts in recent weeks, with improved results despite their lowly league position, continued to have the upper hand and they were awarded a penalty opportunity, but the home kicker put wide to maintain the scoreline at 7-0 in their favour.
Despite missing three of their regular starting backline, the visitors started to get their game going, and returning skipper Ed Gough, who missed last week’s win at Droitwich, made a good break before offloading to full back Dwayne Cruickshank who had to stretch to gather the ball one handed, before crossing the line. Gough converted the try to level the scores.
Just before the half an hour mark, the home side restored their lead when their kicker was successful this time with a penalty kick.
Kidderminster continued to enjoy the better of things and extended their lead with their second try, this time from distance, for the final scoring action of the half and a 15-7 lead at the break.
The visitors got the strong start to the second half they needed, when centre Jack Green crashed over for his side’s second try which skipper Gough converted to narrow the scores to 15-14.
Unfortunately, they couldn’t capitalise on that and after an even fifteen-minute period, the hosts scored again with an unconverted try to extend their lead to 20-14.
Into the final quarter of the game, Alcester claimed the lead for the first time, when scrum half Will Silk scored under a pile of bodies, which Gough again converted to bring the score to 20-21.
Now firmly in the ascendancy, the red and blacks came close to scoring again after wing Alex Chiles was bundled into touch, just short of the line, following another good break by his skipper, Ed Gough.
Moments later, the visitors did get their bonus point fourth try, thanks to Cruickshank’s second score out wide which moved the scoreline to 20-26.
Inside the final ten minutes of the game, and with tired bodies and minds, tempers started to flare and both sides received two yellow cards each across three separate flashpoints.
Kidderminster’s number 8 was first to be sin binned and shortly afterwards, Alcester centre Noah Birks scores under the posts, which man of the match Gough again converted.
One from each side followed into the bin, shortly afterwards, before a second Alcester yellow in the dying moments to even the numbers up, and the home side took full advantage to score their bonus point try to leave the final score at 25-33.
Alcester have a break from league action now and are next in action when Bromyard are the visitors to Kings Coughton on 14th February.
