Alton gave their long- suffering supporters something to cheer about on Saturday when they beat bottom side Tonbridge in a tense battle to ensure their survival in the London second division.

With two games to play, Alton cannot now be caught by Old Guildfordians and Tonbridge, who both had points deducted early in the season.

The Anstey Park outfit made their usual slow start and the visitors enjoyed the early pressure.

But Alton played with great spirit and fire and their defence held out superbly.

A penalty enabled Alton to clear their lines and this led directly to a maul situation after a line-out. Hooker Jon Green made a 40-metre break from the maul and a penalty and forced line-out set up a chance to score from five metres out, only for the ball to be lost in close contact.

The omens were not good for Alton at this stage. David Rowledge's penalty from 30 metres drifted wide and the miss proved costly as Juddians took a 3-0 lead after a series of line-outs and penalties close to the line, Alton being caught offside repeatedly.

Five minutes later, after a kick-ahead wide on the left, the Tonbridge winger won a race for the ball to touch down and, with the try being converted, Alton found themselves 10-0 down.

Alton responded with a series of close exchanges between the forwards, often making good yardage, but too often the last pass was knocked on or lost in contact.

After 25 minutes, however, further Alton pressure resulted in a maul 10 metres out and the ball was taken on by veteran No 8 Malcolm Osborne. When he was held up two metres short, tyro flanker Gary MacDonnell was on hand to take the short pass and score a vital try.

Rowledge kicked a good conversion and Alton had cut the deficit to 7-10 at half-time.

The second half started scrappily, with both sides fumbling the ball, and most of the play was in midfield.

Midway through the half, a clever call from winger Sam Rees, back from university, directed scrum-half Jago Edwards to kick ahead and the winger picked up five metres out to score wide out.

But Alton's lead was short-lived. Juddians edged 13-12 in front with another penalty and a tense finale was on the cards.

With five minutes remaining, Alton were awarded a scrum five metres out.

And it was the Alton of old who showed their scrummaging power to produce a pushover try for Osborne, Rowledge again converting to give his side a 19-13 lead.

Tonbridge pressurised the home line in the last five minutes of this mistake-ridden game, but a season of having to make big tackles count gave Alton the upper hand in the tight.

An overjoyed Alton and their followers greeted the final whistle.

l Due to a fixture quirk, Alton travel to face the same opponents this week. Their final league match is on April 28 when Maidstone visit Anstey Park (ko 3 pm).

Alton: Murrell, Green, Kerr, Doel, Bates, MacDonnell, Cooper (Watkins 60 mins), Osborne, Jago, Frith, Mills, D Rowledge, J Rees, S Rees, Law. Subs Jones, Hughes.