Alcester’s under 15s rounded off their season’s campaign with a hard fought and narrow win at their old friends and rivals Harbury, following another excellent game between the two evenly matched sides which could have gone either way after the lead changed hands on four occasions throughout the match.

With both sides missing a number of regulars, Alcester gave debuts to Ben Woods and Michael Lawrence, whilst Harry Armstrong and lewis walker stepped up to play for the under 15s for the first time. Woods actually made his maiden match day appearance playing on the flank for Harbury in the first half, as the home side were one man down, and he acquitted himself very well and also when he returned to Alcester colours in the second half, with another Alcester flanker Matt Bott swapping shirts to play for the hosts.

On a bright and sunny morning at Waterloo Fields and with the wind at their backs, the Harbury side started well and took a deserved lead following a try by one of their forwards after sustained pressure near the Alcester line, by the home pack.

The visitors responded well and not to be outdone their pack drove the home defence back with a well constructed maul following a line out in the Harbury half. When the drive was eventually halted, skipper and scrum half Sam Smith moved the ball wide and some good hands by the Alcester backs set left wing Charlie Lakin free for an incisive run towards the line. He was tackled just short, but he was supported well and from the ensuing ruck, flanker Arun Bhaduri crashed over for his first ever score in Alcester colours. Fly half Josh Godson narrowly failed with the conversion attempt from wide out.

The red and blacks had to withstand further home pressure, before man of the match Fred Badham put his side in front with a brilliant individual try, following a run which saw him break several tackles and outpace the cover defence to score under the posts. Josh Godson converted.

The score settled the visitors and for the first time in the game the momentum swung their way and they pressed the Harbury line in search of further scores. Try scorers Lakin and Bhaduri were involved in another dangerous looking break with the ever energetic Ed Goddard, which got hauled back for a forward pass just as it looked like the visitors might be in for their third try.

They had to settle for a narrow 12-10 lead at half time and made changes at the break, welcoming back lock Nick Rymsza and centre Charlie Whiston following injury lay offs, which saw them sit out the first half.

Harbury once again settled quickest in the opening stages of the half and they reclaimed the lead with another forwards try after more pack pressure near the Alcester line.

Within moments Alcester were level again after a long Josh Godson kick had taken play deep into Harbury territory forcing a knock on by a home defender. From the resulting scrum, Sam Smith seemed to be offered the freedom of Waterloo Fields by the home defence and he needed no second invitation to exploit the gap and dive over the line.

The topsy turvy nature of the game continued when the home side reclaimed the lead with a brilliant finish by their pacy left winger, before Alcester struck back to lead 24-22 with a well taken score by Charlie Whiston following a trademark powerful and direct run.

Josh Godson’s accurate kicking was becoming a feature of the second half and keeping Harbury pinned in their own territory and following one such kick, the Alcester pack enjoyed a rare line out win which allowed their backs to launch a swift move wide, where Charlie Lakin this time managed to elude the cover defence with another good run, after having switched wings a short time before. Josh Godson brilliantly converted to give his side a commanding 9 point lead for the first time in the game.

Debutante wing Michael Lawrence came agonisingly close to a first score which would have settled the contest, but he was tackled well and spilt the ball with the line beckoning. Harbury struck back with their fifth try, but Alcester clung on to claim a good win and round off what has been an enjoyable season for all involved.