Alcester 8 Coventry Welsh 18

A disjointed and lethargic Alcester failed to mark their Presidents' Day with a win and were beaten by a Welsh side who were relegated from Midlands Four West last year.

Alcester were forced into a number of changes in key positions and this ensured they struggled to win and retain possession which ultimately proved their downfall.

The way Alcester started, it looked as though it may be a different story as they took the lead inside the opening five minutes. Skipper Pat Lamb took a great catch from a line out ten yards out and his pack drove their opponents over the line, flanker Keith Beech being at the back of the maul to touch down.

But the King's Coughton side failed to add to their lead and although Welsh missed a kickable penalty, they were soon holding a 7-5 lead thanks to a converted forwards try.

Another penalty gave Welsh a five point lead at the break, Alcester losing possession all too often in the ruck.

Full back Tom Heneghan kept the home side in touch with with a penalty but Alcester again sat back and allowed Welsh to regain the initiative.

The killer blow came when the ball came skidding out of a scrum near the Alcester line and the visiting scrum half reacted quickest to dive on the ball and score his side's second try.

Alcester had little invention in their attempts to get back into the game, and with their main supply line from the line out almost entirely blocked out by Welsh, they didn't gather enough clean ball to really threaten.

The final 15 minutes saw Welsh add another penalty to finish the game ten points clear.

On an otherwise forgettable afternoon for Alcester, the one bright spot was the return to 1st XV action of diminutive winger Luke Tarling after an absence of two seasons.

An injury-ravaged 2nd string were beaten 25-5 at Droitwich.

Several players were out of position, most notably winger Dave Benskine who stood in at hooker.

Alcester 3rds surrendered a half-time lead as they went down 17-11 to Droitwich Vets.