Alton Shock Es to Claim Fifth-Round Place

Alton come back from 10-0 down to defeat runaway Hants One leaders Ellingham and Ringwood in the EDF Junior Vase.

EDF Energy Junior Vase, Round Four:

Ellingham & Ringwood (10) 13

Try: Vaughan;

Conversion: Weeks;

Penalties: Weeks (2).

Alton (3) 20

Tries: Davies, Watts;

Conversions: Ott (2);

Penalties: Ott (2).

It was a result that defied logic and turned the form-book inside-out, but Alton upset the apple-cart by beating Ellingham & Ringwood 20-13 at Picket Post to reach the fifth round of the EDF Energy Junior Vase.

Alton were, to put it quite bluntly, superb. They came back from 10-0 down to defeat the runaway leaders of Hampshire One and give a much-needed boost to the team's morale. After a rather dismal few weeks, Alton finally turned up at the party.

Victory may not have earned Alton any league points, but it puts a few bob in the club's coffers. Now they simply must start winning some Hampshire League matches.

Alton should not have had a sniff of winning this game. Ellingham & Ringwood had won their last seven league and cup games prior to Saturday, conceding just thirteen and scoring several thousand points in the process. In the meantime, Alton have lost six league matches in a row.

The Es had been mightily impressive when they handed Alton a drubbing in their league game at Anstey Park only a month ago. Moreover, an Ellingham home defeat is as rare as hen's teeth - their isolated, wind-swept Picket Post ground has been a rugby graveyard for most opponents in recent years.

To make matters worse, Alton were forced to start without second-row Matt France, whose car broke down on the way to the ground.

Predictably therefore, it was the Es who started the stronger. Fly-half Andy Weeks slotted a penalty and then extended their lead on the quarter-hour. Ellingham won line-out ball deep inside Alton's 22 and launched a rolling-maul from which flanker Anthony Vaughan claimed the try.

But far from being a procession for the home side, Alton hit back hard.

They responded with a ferocity they have rarely shown this season. Their forwards rucked and counter-rucked as if their lives depended upon it and as a result, they forced Ellingham repeatedly to turn the ball over - eleven times, no less.

Number eight Garry MacDonell made some punishing breaks from the base of the scrum while lock Mark Greenhalgh frequently pilfered Ellingham ball at the line-outs. But overall it was a day when all the Alton forwards were simply too aggressive and out-muscled their opponents. Even Ellingham's forwards were surprised at the aggression of the Alton forwards.

Above all, it was flanker Andrew Davies who stood out. He was everywhere, tackled everything in sight and even helped himself to a try, but it was his constant harassment of Weeks, the Es' highly experienced and accomplished play-maker, that left Ellingham struggling for territory and continuity.

Overall, however, Alton - forwards and backs - hardly missed a tackle.

Steven Ott - who enjoyed a 100 per cent strike-rate and kicked immaculately from hand - kicked a penalty either side of the interval to reduce the arrears and Alton deservedly took the lead when Davies' powered over from a close range drive.

Ott converted but Weeks made it 13 points apiece with his second penalty halfway through the second half.

The decisive score came a quarter of an hour from the end when Alton won attacking line-out ball deep inside Es territory and set up a rolling-maul, and it was prop Shane Watts who claimed the touchdown. Ott converted and Alton had the lead again - and it was no more than they deserved.

Alton had further chances and nearly added a third try late in the game when Stephen Johns was foiled by a last-ditch tackle by Es' full-back Derek Webb, but it didn't proved to be costly, and Alton can look forward to another EDF adventure.

* Alton's highly influential back-row forward Adam Baker will miss the rest of the season after sustaining a serious knee injury in Saturday's game.

Ellingham & Ringwood: Webb; Williams, Marks, Major, Beavis; Weeks, Whale; Gilbert, Farmer, Langford; Grant, Soden; Vaughan, Mitchell (c), Padfield.

Alton: Johns; Ross, Forsyth, Ott, Wills; Collins, Postles; Happel, Parratt (c), Hopkin ; Baker (France), Greenhalgh; Watts, Davies, MacDonell.