ALCESTER lifted themselves out of the bottom two after ending their long wait for a second win of the season.

After beating Claverdon 19-17 at home in their opening Warwickshire One fixture, Alcester have endured a torrid time but banished their poor run with a 62-3 win over basement boys Pinley.

But injured skipper Andy Flynn refused to get excited after beating a side he described as 'shambolic.'

The hosts started with only 13 players, had another turn up after kick off, but were further depleted by an injury in the match.

And with the Coventry outfit talking of dropping out of the league, the long-awaited victory could be meaningless.

But with Alcester the only team in the bottom half of the league to win, they climbed above Rugby St Andrews and closed the gap on fourth-from-bottom Spartans to a point.

The resurgent side turn their attentions to the Warwickshire Shield on Sunday when they visit Coventry-based Marconi (ko 2.15pm).

Alcester are out for revenge after a 19-10 league reverse a fortnight ago against the side who ended their Shield hopes last season.

But Flynn has a host of all-too-familiar selection problems with centre Scott Carmichael ruled out by tendon damage.

Winger Martin Sargeant and flanker Mick Weaver are doubtful and coach and second row Chris Burgess is on holiday.

Second row Darren Craig is unlikely to figure for a fortnight with his wife expecting a baby and lock Mark Kilbride was today (Wednesday) set to learn his fate from a disciplinary tribunal after his sending off against Manor Park with an expected ban likely to rule him out from Sunday.

But prop Andy Foster (flu), number eight Paul Clarke (work commitments) and full back Robbie Parker (knee) are set to return.