This was much more like the Alton of old as they beat a team they had lost to earlier in the season by more than 40 points.

Alton remain bottom of the division, but are now level on points with Vandals, whom they still have to play, and only one point behind Dorking.

Frustratingly, Alton are without a league game for two weeks, but with a few more performances like this, they could speedily pull away from the relegation zone.

The home spectators, caught out by the early kick-off to accommodate the international, nearly missed the opening try. Alton conceded a penalty for handling in the ruck and Dorking ran the ball swiftly to secure seven points.

Alton came back down the slope and a clever touch-kick by stand-off John Frith gave them a lineout just five metres out. However, Alton strayed offside; Dorking swept back up the park and a swift handling move gave them another try.

Dorking must have thought the game was theirs, but Alton's forwards had other ideas and began battering the visitors' defence.

Shortly before half-time, Alton were back on the Dorking five-metre line, with the put-in at a lineout. There was no mistake this time and the forwards powered over, Paul Moran claiming the try and Carl Knight the conversion.

Alton soon drew level with a similar score, again following a penalty, this time Jon Greene grounding the ball under a pile of bodies. Knight's conversion attempt, into the wind, fell short.

For most of the second half, Alton encamped in enemy territory, grimly determined that the points should be theirs. Twice in the first 10 minutes they crossed the line, only for Dorking to prevent them grounding the ball.

But a score was inevitable and Kevin Wilson eventually drove over from the base of a scrum, giving Carl Knight a simple conversion under the post.

By now, the ball was like a bar of soap and it was not until the last 10 minutes that Alton finally ended Dorking's challenge. Replacement Jason Grace, with his first touch of the ball, pounced on a handling error and his youth and freshness left Dorking's defence floundering. Again, Knight converted.

Prop Steve Hellier, a replacement because he had missed the kick-off due to rail delays, took out his frustration in injury time when he turned into a charging bull that was going to be stopped by no-one. He drove in single-handed for a try in the corner, wrapping the match up at 31-12.

Xeretec Man of the Match: Kevin Wilson.