Coventry Saracens 8 Alcester 29

ALTHOUGH they never captured prime form, Alcester did enough to regain third place in the table. Denied when an early penalty smacked against the left upright, Max Biltcliffe slotted home his next opportunity and then launched the best move of the game - Ollie Braley tearing through and fellow winger Stuart Whitehead taking over to claim the try. Saracens reduced the arrears with a penalty

and showed brighter form at the start of the second half but it was Alcester who had the cutting edge, Mica Pieri pouncing for an opportunist try improved by Biltcliffe.

Skipper Scott Carmichael then shrugged off several tackles to score under the posts, Biltcliffe adding the simple conversion.

And although Saracens snatched a try when, for once, they out-scrummed the visitors, any comeback hopes were demolished when Pieri charged down a kick, collected the ball, and powered through for his second try - substitute Rich Smith adding the two points to put Alcester in good heart for Saturday's showdown with Wellesbourne at King's Coughton.