Farnborough 43pts, Alton 24pts

JUST like last week, this was a top-of-the-table clash in London South West 2 with both teams locked together on 20 points.

Alton had secured four bonus point wins, Farnborough three bonus point wins and a walkover worth five points. It promised to be a close and hotly-contested match, and so it proved, with victory for Farnborough in doubt until the last five minutes.

Both teams had to cope with the unseasonably rare continual rain, but any nervousness Farnborough may have had was eased when James Windle put the first points on the board with a penalty in front of the posts after six minutes for a 3-0 lead.

Alton fought back, keeping the ball in Farnborough’s 22 and eventually scoring a try through Mike Woolley, which stand-off Joe Gwyther duly converted to give the visitors the lead at 7-3.

But 10 minutes later, Farnborough’s Carl Clements popped out from a scrum to score a try. Windle had an easy conversion as his side retook the lead 10-7.

Almost immediately Alton were back in front when their pack drove second row Jon Crothers over. This time the conversion was missed as Alton led again, 12-10.

In a see-saw tussle, Farnborough replied with a converted try when Jay Miller dodged and weaved in from 25 metres to score. And there was worse to come for Alton as Miller scored again straight after a scrum just four minutes later to give Farnborough a useful 22-12 lead at half time.

Soon after the restart, Farnborough scored another converted try, this time through Alex Stewart who went over in the left-hand corner to stretch the home side’s advantage to 29-12.

But within three minutes Alton closed the gap with an unconverted try by Gwyther, to cut the arrears to 29-17.

Alton now pressured the home defence and may well have scored again but an intercepted pass meant they missed the opportunity.

And Farnborough took full advantage when Nathan Carter dodged a last-ditch tackle to pop over the line for a clinical try which was converted by Windle to pad the lead to 36-17.

Alton didn’t give up and with 16 minutes to go they claimed their bonus point try when hooker Luke Parratt touched down to cut the gap to 36-24.

A succession of penalties in Farnborough’s 22 gave the visitors hope and put Farnborough’s nerves on edge.

Unfortunately, Farnborough’s captain, Lee Kirkham, intercepted an Alton pass on the cusp of full time and raced to the line to put the ball down behind the posts, with Windle having the last say by kicking the conversion between the posts.

A final score of 43-24, which some would argue somewhat flattered the home side, puts Farnborough four points clear. Alton will look forward to the return fixture at the end of January when they will have the opportunity to redress the balance.

On Saturday, Alton look forward to welcoming old friends, and rivals, Haslemere to Anstey Park when they meet in the London & South East Region Junior Vase cup competition (kick-off 3pm).