Alcester 22 Kings Norton 19

Alcester ran out worthy winners of a keenly fought contest at King's Coughton on Saturday afternoon.

It was the hosts' first win since 25th November, but their joy was once again overshadowed by the injury curse which has jinxed the club this season.

Stand in skipper Matt Gwynn became the latest Alcester player to suffer knee ligament damage.

To make matters worse his half-back partner, Taffy Handley, also had to leave the field with a rib injury after a late tackle grounded him.

Alcester had prepared better than at any stage this season for a basement battle against Pinley.

But with their opponents crying off, a match against Midlands Four West South whipping boys Kings Norton was hastily arranged.

Alcester withstood early pressure from the visitors, but a stray pass 10 yards out, put paid to Norton's best chance.

The hosts took advantage of the let off to take the lead 20 minutes in.

A great tackle on his opposite number by winger Owen Phillips turned possession in Alcester's favour.

The ball ran free in the tackle and centre John Dover was first to react to gather and race in along the touchline to score, Matt Gwynn converting.

Within 10 minutes Alcester were further ahead, a towering line out catch by Pat Lamb set up a determined Alcester drive ten yards out, in which Mick Weaver was prominent.

Lamb finished off the pack's good work, twisting through the driving maul to touch down, Gwynn again converting.

Alcester's line out domination afforded half backs Handley and Gwynn plenty of possession and they made the visiting back three turn on numerous occasions, with intelligent kicks forward down the slope.

Desperate defence by the hosts prevented a score in a sustained five minute spell on their own line, but Alcester finally succumbed on the stroke of half time as the visitors breached the home defence to touch down despite claims of obstruction.

The subsequent conversion left the half time score 14-7 to Alcester.

Spurred on, Kings Norton pinched Alcester's ball in the scrum near the home line and scored in the corner.

The game moved into a spell of end to end rugby, with both defences on top until Alcester scored the try of the match.

The home scrum put the visitors under pressure near their line and when the ball found its way to Gwynn he cleverly dummied his way through the defensive line to feed Dover, who avoided the last man to score his second.

Shortly afterwards a Gwynn penalty stretched Alcester's lead to 10 points.

Club captain Andy Flynn took the chance to blood two substitutes with Andy Foster replacing Mick Weaver and Andy Smith replacing Robbie Parker.

Both Weaver and Parker were carrying knocks and removed as a precaution.

Within minutes Alcester were forced into another reshuffle after Handley's injury, with Ross Nicholl joining the fray and Smith reverting to scrum half.

The visitors capitalised scoring a further converted try and ensuring a nervy finale.

Alcester held on but Gwynn badly twisted his knee at the bottom of a ruck five minutes from time. Fit-again Chas Kay replaced him.