No Shame in Defeat for Makeshift Alton

Islanders keep their promotion hopes alive, but Alton push them hard.

Sandown & Shanklin won the battle but a depleted Alton side emerged with their honour very much intact at a sun-kissed Fairway Ground.

Tries from lock Dan Hodgson and Nick Healan, plus five points from the boot of full-back Neil Buckingham, proved to be enough to secure victory over Alton, for whom prop James Gay scored a try with the final move of the match.

This was always going to be a tough assignment for Alton. Hurricanes lie second in the league and look slight favourites for the promotion play-off spot and an immediate return to the London leagues. They have also won twice at Anstey Park this season.

Furthermore, a lack of available players and late withdrawals meant Alton crossed The Solent with a makeshift squad that included four debutants and a total of five teenagers.

To make matters worse, they also had to configure a new half-back partnership while they were on the ferry.

Consequently, Alton's coaching staff were left with the task of making a cathedral of match-sticks, but the players responded with a performance that was bristled character. They were a credit to the club.

The forwards, especially, competed fiercely and although the scrum occasionally creaked and the half-back pairing of Richards Hemmens and Stephen Johns did not gel, what Alton lacked in cohesion they made up for in sheer determination and enthusiasm.

Debutant scrum-half Hemmens acquitted himself manfully and an audacious break from his own line provided one of the best moments of the day for Alton.

Elsewhere, there were first starts for flankers Sam Jenkins and teenager Matt Jones while a third back-row debutant, seventeen-year-old Will Happel, enjoyed his first appearance in a first-team shirt. Jones was particularly impressive; he was perpetual motion personified.

Indeed, the first quarter of the game belonged almost entirely to the visitors and Alton should have had a sizeable early lead. Ott missed with two shots at goal as Alton repeatedly found themselves in good positions and carved out chances.

But rugby matches are won by turning pressure into points and then defending what you have earned. For all Alton's pressure, they failed to trouble the scoreboard and the hosts eventually began to assert themselves and win some ball; they, by contrast, put points on the board.

Hurricanes' mountain of a second-row Hodgson opened the scoring shortly before half-time with a storming run from a line-out that simply routed Alton's defence, and shortly into the second half, Healan's close-range try extended the hosts' advantage - an advantage that was further extended by Buckingahm's conversion and penalty.

Alton had the final say, though, when a series of drives from the forwards took them close to Hurricanes' line; eventually prop Gay was driven over to give Alton a well-merited try and Ott converted.

Alton must now turn their attention to Saturday's crucial relegation battle with Fareham Heathens at Anstey Park (2.30pm). Meanwhile, Ellingham & Ringwood can clinch the Hampshire One title if they can win at East Dorset.

Sandown and Shanklin Hurricanes: Buckingham; Gasper, Morey, Edmunds, Jones; Healan (c), Thomas; Harris, Soufflett, Skelley; Sam Rees, Hodgson; Tolley, Carey, Joe Rees. Reps.: Jon Buckingham, Dean, Dove.

Alton : Oliphant; White, Van Herwijen, Ott, Wills; Johns, Hemmens (Grace); John Happel, Parratt (c), Gay; Greenhalgh, Osborne; Jenkins (Will Happel), Jones, Hayward.

[With thanks - again - to King Tony]