Alton 30pts, Ellingham & Ringwood 21pts

WITH both teams at the top of Hampshire 1 with three bonus point wins out of three, this match promised to be a close and hotly-contested match.

And so it proved, with victory for Alton only secured 60 seconds before the final whistle.

Playing downhill on the improved surface of the main pitch at Anstey Park, Alton soon took the lead when they were awarded a penalty. Stand-off Joe Gwyther securing the points for a 3-0 lead.

Ellingham and Ringwood responded immediately with a penalty of their own to level the scores at 3-3. Alton reacted by running the ball at every opportunity and seven minutes into the half flanker Karter Whittock finished off a flowing move to put the home side ahead 8-3.

Alton’s pack were responsible for the next try six minutes later too when they camped on the visitors’ goal line. They were awarded a scrummage and a clean heel by hooker Luke Parratt allowed Tony Hopkin to pick the ball up at the back and he scampered over for a typical No.8’s score. Gwyther kicked the conversion to give Alton some breathing room at 15-3.

The visitors kicked another penalty just two minutes later but, almost immediately, fell further behind when Alton’s backs flowed into their half. A Cipriani-like pass by Joe Gwyther missed out two players giving right winger Ryan Bale the room to go over in the corner.

Leading 20-6 at half-time Alton seemed to relax, and Ellingham and Ringwood sensed this and by using their competent set of backs had stunned Alton with three tries by the 15th minute of the half, fortunately none were converted but suddenly Alton trailed.

Facing defeat by a point Alton again camped in the visitors’ 22-metre area, but they were kept out by a stoic defensive effort. They were awarded several penalties but to gain the try bonus point they tried to use their superior lineout technique but were repelled.

Ten minutes from the end Alton opted to kick one of the penalties and Gwyther restored the lead at 23-21.

Alton were subjected a strong attacking effort by Ellingham and Ringwood, but their defence held, and on the stroke of full time Alton were awarded a scrum some 10 metres from the opposition goal line. The defence anticipated a repeat of Alton’s efforts through the forwards, but this time scrum-half George Pantry passed to his left, away from the pack, into the path of centre Brendan Sumner bursting through who was virtually untouched as he crossed the line to score beneath the posts, giving Gwyther an easy conversion to take the final score to 30-21.

On Saturday, Alton are away in Hampshire 1. Yet again it will be a top-of-the-table clash, this time against Farnborough, who currently lead Alton on points difference. Both teams have won their first four games of the season with a try bonus point in each match. Kick-off 3pm.