Alcester 4ths 0

Redditch 4ths/Exiles 78

THIS was not a particularly satisfying afternoon for either side.

For Alcester it was a convincing defeat against local rivals while Redditch found it all too easy at times, virtually running in tries at will against poor home tackling.

Wayne Sharp got the first try with the first attack of the game. His elusive running was a cause of nightmares for the Alcester defence all afternoon and he scored two more tries in the first half.

Others to pile on the agony were Paul Buck (two), Jason Habgood and Dave Smith. Darren Field was able to convert five of the seven tries.

Alcester competed well up front - too well at times for the referee who sent one of their biggest forwards to the sin bin.

The second half didn't see much let-up for the home side.

Neil Cardy pounced on a stray ball behind a scrum, Buck completed his hat-trick, replacement Chris Hemmings skipped over for his while Brian Carr tripped over for his.

Field converted all four but failed with the last kick of the match following Tommy Cresswell's sneaky try in the corner.

Man of the match was Steve Kneerlie who had one of his finest displays for the club and went close many times.

This Saturday the Exiles make a journey to the Black Country to take on Wednesbury, an unknown quantity for the Redditch side.