IT'S an old cliche, but the result did not reflect the game. Alton could have at least come away with a draw but for two vital decisions that went against them at Guildford on Saturday.

However, Alton showed that skill and grit are still present in this generation of Anstey Park players.

Both sides started nervously and there was little fluency in the early play. Gradually, Guildford, in fine form recently, began to put some attacks together, but the Alton defence again showed they are no pushovers and strong tackles from Winston Carter and David Rowledge ensured that the ball carriers made little ground in the phased attacks.

Alton gradually began to gain territory and after a series of penalties from hand, the vistors took the lead when Tony Watson had a straightforward kick at goal.

The lead only lasted three minutes. An overlap on the left created an easy try for Guildford wing Mike Harris after a good final pass from full-back Chris Scott.

An excellent playing surface and lack of wind meant that the game was played with the ball in hand, with both sets of backs intent on finding their wingers.

Alton suffered a setback with the yellow-carding of flanker Leon Platauer after 35 minutes for a late tackle. With the Alton defence one man short, a series of probing attacks produced another Guildford overlap and a simple touchdown for Jon Moore.

The half-time score of 10-3 to Guildford was probably about right.

The second half started brightly for Alton. A series of penalties brought them to the Guildford 22 and from another penalty, No 8 Adam Baker quickly tapped and caught the home defence off-guard as he drove himself over. Watson's conversion made it 10 points apiece.

Then controversy. An Alton clearance bounced off the clubhouse and appeared to be helped back over the rope by a spectator. Guildford took a quick lineout as a result and centre Richard Gilbert ran through a bemused defence to score under the posts.

The referee said he had not seen the incident, but that was not much comfort for the visitors as Kris Mannering's conversion increased Guildford's lead to 17-10.

A fired-up Alton went back on the attack and a lineout catch and drive from a penalty gave them a deserved score. Tony Hopkins was credited with the try and Watson's superb conversion from wide out squared the match once more at 17-17.

Alton were still pumped up and, after a lineout on the Guildford 10m line, they shoved the home pack 30 metres backwards. Guildford's answer was to collapse the maul and, as a result, they had a player sin-binned.

A series of rucks from the ensuing penalty saw Alton almost score, but then they were penalised – quite rightly – for not releasing in the tackle. It was a crucial spot by the referee because a score at that point, with Guildford a man down, could have changed the course of the game.

As it was, Guildford regained the upper hand in the last 10 minutes. Harris scored his second try and Dave Targett crashed over from a maul, with Mannering converting, and these points took the game away from the visitors.