Alcester 20 Coventry Welsh 12

After running leaders Earlsdon close in their previous game, Alcester went one better at King's Coughton on Saturday, producing one of their best performances of the season to beat second placed Coventry Welsh.

A lively, sometimes fiery contest saw four players sin binned and Alcester club captain Andy Flynn ordered from the touchline.

The hosts, playing down the slope in the first half, started brightly and after early pressure forced an infringement for fly half John Dover to give Alcester the lead from the resulting penalty.

Relegation-threatened Alcester continued their good start and lock Pat Lamb embarked on a trademark galloping run through the heart of the visitors' defence, which nearly brought further points.

Flynn's men did not have to wait long, skipper Paul Clarke found himself in acres of space after picking up at the base of the scrum and his timely release to scrum half Robbie Parker allowed the Alcester speedster to touch down the first try.

Coventry Welsh seemed surprised at the quality of Alcester's determined play and were often jittery in defence, particularly under the high ball with Dover ensuring the visiting full back had no respite.

Clarke and Parker were everywhere to pick up the scraps as Alcester made a mockery of the league positions.

Welsh resorted to unsavoury spoiling tactics, as they had no answer to Alcester's rugby, and referee Paul Smith had to speak to both visiting locks for punching in the scrum.

Hooker Dickie Moore exacted revenge earning himself ten minutes in the sin bin.

Despite being down to 14, Alcester pressed, using the slope to gain advantage and producing flowing rugby.

From one such move, John Dover waltzed through several tackles to increase the lead to 15 points, after converting his own try.

When Moore rejoined the fray, Alcester thought they had stretched their lead as winger Martin Sergeant crossed the line, but play was brought back after he strayed into touch.

A neck high tackle by one of the visiting locks sparked an angry reaction by the hosts, in particular by sidelined captain Andy Flynn, who was ordered from the touchline by the referee after a fracas.

The Coventry Welsh lock became the second player sin binned.

Alcester used the numerical advantage to increase their lead to 20 points, after a try, following a brilliant run by right wing Steve Wade.

The hosts had completely dominated the first half, restricting the visitors to a failed long-range penalty just before half time.

After the break Welsh replied with a try from a rolling maul by their pack after caught line out ball near the Alcester line.

Andy Foster and Mick Weaver came on to replace Mark Kitchen and Pete Eastwood in the Alcester pack.

Fit-again Weaver brought a new dimension to the Alcester play and Welsh had two more players sin-binned for taking their frustration out on the Alcester replacement.

But whilst down to 13 the visitors scored a second converted try ensuring a nervy finish for Alcester.