CROWTHORNE RFC secured their first win of the BB&O Premier season with a gutsy 16-13 triumph at Alchester.

The initial exchanges were physical with both sides aiming to set a solid platform.

The Crows struck first with a simple move starting on the right which saw the ball move left through fly-half Alex Stewart’s hands to James Huckle at inside centre, and he weaved his way through the defence to cross the whitewash and open the scoring.

Dougie Charman added the conversion to make it 7-0 to the visitors.

With the wind on their backs, Crows used the boot to gain field position but wanted to play to their strength so mixed possession well, carrying the ball in hand.

A long-range penalty from the boot of Charman after 14 minutes kept the scoreboard ticking over with the home side unable to get out of their own half.

Two further penalties and one in reply from Alchester gave the Crows a useful 16-3 half-time lead.

Coach Dave Thorley hailed the opening 40 minutes as a success but called for discipline in the second half as conditions now favoured Alchester.

That was exactly how the second 40 minutes panned out as the home side exploited the wind to play deep in the Crows half.

The home side got a score back seven minutes into the half, but the Crowthorne defence worked hard to repel their constant attacks.

Alchester scored a second try to reduce the arrears to 16-13 on 73 minutes, putting pressure on the visitors as they attempted to break their seasonal duck.

However, the Crows regrouped and managed to play some rugby in the home team’s half, running down the clock in order to claim their first elusive win.

On a day when the whole side impressed, man-of-the-match for the Crows went to blind side flanker Gregory Redpath .

Crowthorne entertain old foes Chesham this coming Saturday at the New Nest at Arborfield (2.30pm).

l CROWTHORNE Ladies lost 12-7 to Reading on Sunday.