PICTURE GALLERY: Alcester v Upton-on-Severn

ALCESTER recovered from a slow start as they claimed a hard-fought 20-15 victory over Upton-on-Severn on Saturday.

Upton took control at the start of the game and were rewarded with a try within the first five minutes.

A successful penalty kick from Max Biltcliffe secured Alcester’s first points of the match.

The home side were missing a lot of tackles and the ones they were attempting to make were too high to make much of an impact.

This helped Upton in scoring their second try, this time it was converted.

Alcester finished the first half on a high and were able to find a flow about their game which resulted in Ben Hope adding more points to the board to take the red and blacks within four points of their opposition at half-time.

Hope, who was later named man-of-the-match, scored again which now took his team into the lead, one they did not let slip.

Jamie Harland made a break but was tackled just before the line, however, a successful offload meant that Mat Ashby was able to complete the score and then kick his own conversion.

Upton finished the game with a penalty kick, but Alcester took the victory.

Meanwhile, Alcester 2nds suffered a 48-14 defeat to AEI Rugby after only managing to field 12 players.

Man-of-the-match Alex Chiles and Elliot Evans scored Alcester’s tries.

Both Alcester teams play their final league game of the season this weekend with the first team travelling to Woodrush in Midlands 3 West (South), whilst second team welcome Bedworth 2nds.