ALTON 29,

FAWLEY 14

THIS was a stirring comeback by Alton after their crushing defeat at Romsey the week before.

A well-constructed team performance was led and co-ordinated by club captain Adam Baker who kept his players talking to each other throughout the game.

Playing up the Anstey Park hill in the first half with a strong wind behind them and much mud underfoot, Alton looked a totally different side, moving the ball confidently and with purpose.

Three quick penalties resulted in a five-metre scrum and a quick heel and controlled shove left Baker to score a simple try, converted by Simon Ford.

Fawley retaliated, but a knock-on stopped their backs’ move. Mark Crowther found touch with a wind-assisted kick and although Fawley cleared their lines, they gave away a penalty 30 metres out and Ford’s excellent kick stretched the lead to 10-0.

Yet another penalty gave Alton an attacking lineout. Tom Smethurst took a clean catch and his fellow forwards drove him over.

Ford missed the conversion, but was on target again after another driven maul had freed up hooker Charlie Hibbert who scampered 15 metres to score. And so Alton changed round with a healthy 22-0 lead.

Now playing into the strong wind, Alton remained confident, as demonstrated by a 50-metre break from centre David Shepherd.

The backs ran and passed as a unit and eventually replacement Matt Spencer broke through to score the bonus-point fourth try, with Ford again converting from in front of the posts.

Trailing 29-0, Fawley finally realised they had the wind advantage and pressed into home territory. Alton defended manfully, but lost two forwards to the sin-bin in the space of two minutes for offences in rucks on their own line.

Fawley ran in two well-worked tries – both converted – while Alton were depleted. But once restored to full strength, Alton resumed control and ran out deserved winners.

This was their first return match of the season and Alton were delighted to avenge a 33-8 defeat at Fawley back in September. Man-of-the-match Adam Baker thanked “the other 17 players for the heart and spirit they showed in a great team performance.”

Alton have a break from Hampshire 2 action until January 16 when they travel to Southampton.