Late Dorset Rally Foils Alton

A try four minutes from the end from East Dorset wing Stefan Bailey denied Alton victory in a tense, pulsating game at Anstey Park.

Alton led for 70 minutes of the match, thanks to a sixth-minute try from teenage flanker Matthew Arundel and two Steve Ott penalties, but two penalties from Adrian Scirrow kept Dorset within touching distance, before Bailey's late intervention levelled the scores.

East Dorset were more than worthy of a share of the spoils, despite an outstanding second-half defensive display from Alton.

In truth, neither side deserved to lose.

Scirrow even had the chance to win the game for the visitors, but his misplaced conversion ensured that, as things stand, Alton secured a vital point and have avoided the dreaded drop.

The key caveat is "as things stand". There is still a degree of uncertainty as to whether three teams - rather than the usual two - will be relegated.

Alton's task now is to ensure they finish fourth from bottom lest the rugby authorities decide to widen the relegation net after the season has ended. Alton have painful recent memories of being relegated retrospectively.

The tenor of the match was not adversely affected by the sheeting rain and biting wind; indeed, it was a lively game that offered more drama and entertainment than the wretched Calcutta Cup fare on display in the nearby clubhouse.

Unlike England, Alton started like a train and they deservedly took the lead just six minutes into the game. They were awarded a five-metre scrum and series of punching drives edged them to the Dorset line and it was Arundel who finally touched down.

The visitors were undaunted and Scirrow reduced the arrears with an 18th-minute penalty after Alton were penalised for offside on their twenty-two.

It was a first half of few opportunities as the conditions began to make ball retention increasingly difficult.

Ott and Scirrow exchanged further penalties before the interval and though Alton edged possession and enjoyed an evident edge in the set-pieces, it was Dorset who came closest to scoring when stand-off Dean Bradley's quick tap caught Alton cold and only desperate defence held them at bay.

It was 8-6 at the break but Dorset, with the elements in their favour and a huge weight advantage in the forwards, began to pile on the pressure and dominate territory. They threw all but the kitchen sink at the Alton line but time and again they were either foiled by a propensity to knock on or by a defence that was not prepared to yield.

Dan Forsyth, who had an outstanding game at full-back, made at least two try-saving tackles; the trio of flankers - Arundel, Winston Carter and Andrew Davies - repeatedly put their bodies into perilous positions to force some crucial turn-overs.

Davies, after a six-week lay-off due to a broken foot, gave a passable impression of a human battering-ram. He was immense.

Alton appeared to have weathered the storm and a rare foray into Dorset territory resulted in Ott extending Alton's lead with a 68th-minute penalty.

However, the visitors were not done and their persistence was eventually rewarded in the 76th minute when livewire scrum-half Kris Bradley ghosted down a big blindside, fed centre Richy Hague, and Hague slipped a neat inside pass to Bailey on the angle for a neatly fashioned try.

Unfortunately for Scirrow, the wind dragged his conversion attempt wide and Dorset had to settle for a share of the points - a fair result and one that should ensure the two teams meet again next season.

Alton: Forsyth; O'Neil, Askem, Johns, White; Ott, Jones-Rogers; Happel, Parratt (c), Watkins; Greenhalgh, Osborne (Hayward 67); Davies, Arundel, MacDonell (Carter 41).

Try: Arundel (6');

Penalties: Ott (2).

East Dorset: Scirrow; Bailey, Hague, Dean, Tidbal; Dean Bradley, Kris Bradley; Rose, Jeffries, Carter; Wheatley, Brencher; Williams, Leadbitter (c), Ramsay.

Try: Bailey (76');

Penalties: Scirrow (2).