Alcester 24, Warwickian 3

ALCESTER claimed a vital second win of the season in the Midlands Division Four West (South) against fellow strugglers Warwickian, which allowed them to leap above Saturday's relegation rivals.

In what already looks like a three-way battle to avoid relegation between Alcester, Warwickan and Keresley, the Kings Coughten men knew that a victory was vital, but they were once again forced into several personnel changes due to injury and work commitments.

This saw a first start of the season for Meka Pieri and another recall for veteran director of rugby, Nick O’Connor.

Warwickian opened the scoring with a penalty but Alcester full back Jamie Randall levelled the scores with a kick of his own five minutes before the break.

Alcester coach Keith Beech made a change at half-time, introducing Robbie Parker at scrum half and switching Fijian Pieri to number eight.

The pair were the pick of the home players in the second half as the home side asserted their authority on the game.

Matt Hurleston touched down to put the hosts ahead after fly half Andy Smith had picked him out and Randall converted.

Buoyed by this score, Alcester doubled their lead straight from the restart when skipper Ben Hope rounded off a superb move to score one of the best team efforts of the season so far for Alcester, which Randall again converted.

Parker then added another score when he burst under the posts after Pieri had started off the move. Randall's accurate boot added the extras.

Alcester are in home league action on Saturday when they face newly-promoted Coventrians. Kick-off at King’s Coughton is 2.15pm.

Meanwhile, the under-16s got the better of Harbury 19-0.

They took the lead against the run of play through a well-taken Dom Evans score, which Charlie Whiston brilliantly converted.

Alcester doubled their try count when scrum half Sam Smith took a quick penalty and fed wing Fred Badham who finished smartly.

Alcester made four changes at the break to ensure all of the squad got game time, and once again the visitors had to with stand some early home pressure in the half.

Whiston broke the defensive line and raced in from the half way line for a try which was kicked over by man of the match Josh Godson.