Alcester 12 Birmingham University Medics 15

ALCESTER were consigned to a fourth successive defeat by their student visitors in an evenly matched game at Kings Coughton.

Both sides opened brightly, but although the Alcester forwards held the early advantage, the Medics backs had the clearer chances.

The visitors' powerful right wing wreaked havoc in the home defence and only last ditch tackles by the Alcester backs, notably Mike De Lange and Grant Skidmore, stopped the visitors from scoring.

The sides cancelled each other out until the closing stages of the half, when the Medics took the lead five minutes before the break through a converted try.

Alcester's best chance came on the stroke of half-time when they were awarded a line out on their opponents' five metre line, but failed to win their own ball.

Alcester suffered a setback at the start of the second half as fly half Matt Gwynn and prop Andy Foster had to leave the field through injury and illness to be replaced by veteran fly half Paul Stephens, who left the 2nds team match to join the fray, and Mick Weaver.

Stephens chipped over the Medics defence, reacted first to the bouncing ball and popped inside for Man of the Match De Lange to score under the posts, Chris Hall converting.

But Alcester went back into their shell and allowed the visitors' No 8 to waltz through and restore their lead.

Lock Pat Lamb burrowed his way through to level but the hosts' were still having problems in the line out and when they infringed at one the visiting fly half coolly slotted over the winning kick.

Alcester had a penalty on the final whistle but the kick was outside De Lange's range.