Impressive Es Shock Alton

Inspired by their half-backs, Ellingham showed their promotional credentials with an impressive win at Anstey Park.

Two defeats from the opening two Hampshire League games is not the start Alton wanted.

After an opening-day loss at East Dorset, they succumbed to a highly accomplished Ellingham and Ringwood side at Anstey Park - and the Es were well worth their win.

Ellingham led 10-0 at the interval before an Andrew Davies try shortly after half-time appeared to have brought Alton back into the match.

But two second-half tries and 16 points from the boot of fly-half Andy Weeks allowed the visitors to turn the screw in a one-sided final quarter as Alton lost their shape.

It was nip-and-tuck for the first hour but the Ellingham line-out and half-backs took control in a one-sided second half.

Alton's supply of quality first-phase possession all but evaporated after half-time as Ellingham's line-out men snaffled or disrupted every Luke Parratt throw-in with great effectiveness.

In all, Alton lost eight second-half line-outs on their own throw and with Weeks' prodigious right boot making lengthy touch-finders, Alton always struggled to escape their own territory,

By contrast, the quality of the visitors' possession and their superior retention of the ball allowed half-back pair Ross Whale and Weeks to call the shots - and the duo punished Alton repeatedly.

Ellingham took the lead on 23 minutes when Alton were penalised for hands in the ruck, Weeks slotting a tricky 30-yard penalty from wide out left.

The opening quarter had been fairly even but the New Forest side were starting to gain the upper hand and they duly scored the opening try seven minutes before half-time when Weeks' clever chip ahead from a penalty eluded Alton full-back Ben Wallace and wing Josh Beavis latched onto the ball to score.

Both sides sought to play a running game and it made for a pulsating, if error-strewn, first-half but it was Ellingham who enjoyed greater possession and they also carried the greater threat - and pace - out wide.

Beavis could have opened the scoring earlier than he did after centre Adam Fityan's break created space for him on the left, but a brilliant Wallace cover tackle denied him the try.

Alton, playing up the slope, had their moments too, with number eight Adam Baker and flankers Davies and Shane Watts making significant forays, but unforced errors and turn-overs prevented them from making any serious headway into Ellingham territory.

Alton did spark into life immediately after the interval, however.

A period of sustained pressure nearly saw centre Phil White under the posts, but he could not control Adam Baker's short pop-pass, but Alton were back in the game on 47 minutes when Steven Johns' astute cross-kick found Davies in acres of space, and the flanker gathered to ball to score in the left-hand corner.

Alton's comeback was short-lived as Ellingham immediately took control again and began to monopolise possession - and as Alton were forced to defend, so they conceded penalties.

Weeks was in the groove and he punished Alton with two further penalties and a drop-goal; and with 19 minutes remaining the game was sealed when Whale made a dart down the blind-side and his inside pass found Tom Marks on the burst, and the wing scored under the posts.

Whale capped a superb individual performance with a try of his own, seven minutes from the end. Again, he chose the blind-side option and a slick loop with Weeks created space for him to slide over in the right-hand corner.

For once Weeks missed with the kick but Ellingham had more than done enough to lay down a marker in this year's promotion battle.

Alton now have a three-week break from league action - their next game is at US Portsmouth on 20 October - but they open their EDF Junior Vase campaign on 13 October with a trip to Surrey 2 side Old Rutlishians on 13 October.

Alton: Wallace; Eade, Phil White (Collins 66), Ott, Ross (Ford 66); Johns, Grace; Happel, Parratt (c), Gay; Greenhalgh (Richard White 41), Oliphant; Watts, Davies, Baker.

Try: Davies.