STRATFORD-upon-Avon RFC edged out local rivals Alcester 17-10 in a pre-season friendly ahead of the start of the new campaign.
The game took place in four 20-minute quarters as Stratford took a 7-0 lead at the first break courtesy of a converted try following a period of pressure on the Alcester line.
Alcester also lost new prop signing Bobby Collins following a series of team infringements.
However, the visitors enjoyed the better of the second period as Josh O’Connor, Louis Smith and Ieuan Hopkin put Alcester on the front foot.
And O’Connor scored a try out wide on the right with Ed Gough unable to add the extras to close the gap between the teams to two points.
Alcester lost both Lewis Wright and Oscar Holland to injury soon after and took the lead when wing Alex Chiles finished in the left corner.
Stratford upped the intensity in the final quarter and scored a second try after breaking through three attempted tackles.
And a Stratford penalty stretched the home side’s lead to seven points in the closing stages.
