ALTON 56, ALDERSHOT & FLEET 3 (Hampshire 2)

ALTON gave easily their best performance of the season as they crushed local rivals Aldershot & Fleet.

All the elements were there – commitment, passing skills, support and team-work – and A&F, after a promising start, had no answer.

Again, the game had to be switched to the SEME Reservation ground in Bordon as most of Anstey Park was still waterlogged.

Aldershot dominated the first quarter, keeping their opponents pinned inside their own half and taking the lead when Alton were penalised for offside.

This gave the visitors confidence and it was 20 minutes before Alton broke out and finally entered the A&F half.

Twice, they scored from lineouts to take command of the game.

From the first, Alton drove for the line and although held up, were able to recycle the ball to prop James Rowe who looped round to score.

A few minutes later, another lineout success gave wing Alex Hayward the chance to also crash over in the corner.

Alton were playing with more purpose, although too many passes were not going to hand. Eventually, scrum-half George Trantham broke the defence and a third unconverted try stretched the lead to 15-3.

Just before half-time, Rowe charged over from 20 metres out for his second try and this time Trantham converted; 22-3 at the interval.

Two minutes into the second half, stand-off Mark Crowther took a quick penalty and some slick passing released wing Fran Williams who claimed his first try of the afternoon.

For the next 20 minutes, Aldershot & Fleet reproduced the defensive qualities they had shown in the first half, but the visitors tired as the final quarter approached.

Alton took full advantage and switched to a running, swift-passing game to score a further five tries.

Lock Chris Gregory got the ball rolling with the first and the other four were all credited to Fran Williams, giving him five in total, the man-of-the-match award and a large bar bill. Trantham kicked two conversions in this satisfying win which keeps Alton sixth in the table.

They travel to Kingsclere this Saturday (ko 2.30pm) and will be expected to beat the bottom side who have lost all 14 of their games thus far and have a points total of -4.