Alton's Cup Adventure Continues

Alton are three games away from a Twickenham final after they defeated Sussex I side Crawley to reach the last sixteen of the EDF Junior Vase.

Trailing 10-7 at half-time, Dan Forsyth and Stuart Eade scored second-half tries to secure a deserved win, and Luke Parratt's revitalised side are now likely to meet West Country opposition in Round 6 on January 12.

The wind and showers ended any real hopes of a running game but it was an absorbing, hard-fought encounter; indeed, it was a tribute to the basic skill levels of both sides that the first scrum of the match came in the 21st minute.

Overall, it was Alton's defence and their superior kicking game that won them the spoils.

As the All Blacks have proved since time immemorial, the trusty old boot can be a very effective attacking weapon - but the difference between a good and a bad kick frequently lies in the quality of the chase.

Crucially, Alton's speed-merchants did their job highly effectively, with two tries coming directly from the pressure exerted by Eade and debutant centre Bart van Heerwijn.

Colts' skipper van Heerwijn has just turned 18 and he could hardly have made a more assured start to life in senior rugby.

Indeed, only thirty seconds into the game he dumped opposite number Chris Ealey on his backside with a battering-ram tackle that won a penalty and though Steven Ott missed with his attempt, Alton only had to wait another five minutes to take the lead.

Crawley took an age to deal with a huge Ott clearance and when wing Matt Trueman eventually gathered the ball under his posts, he was immediately scragged and robbed by the chasing Ott and Eade. The ball bobbled free and lock Matt France, scarcely believing his luck, simply had to gather and dive over the line.

Ott converted, but that try signalled a period of sustained Crawley pressure during which Alton struggled to escape their own 22.

The Crawley forwards pounded away with a series of rolling mauls and pick-up-and-drives close to the Alton line, but they were rebuffed by some fierce defence.

Full-back Andy Evans eventually put the visitors on the scoreboard when he slotted a straightforward penalty but it was scant reward for some sustained pressure.

There was little between the sides in a lively, boot-dominated first period that mustered few scoring opportunities.

Alton carried the greater threat out wide but their attacking zeal cost them dearly when they gifted Crawley a try on the stroke of half-time.

A powerful break from Alton wing James Ross set up an attacking ruck inside the opposition 22 and when the ball was spun wide, Bruce Oliphant's attempted tap-pass lobbed straight into Richie Barnes' hands, and the Crawley wing scampered in from 70 yards.

Evans converted for a 10-7 half-time lead but it was honours even four minutes into the second period when Ott slotted a penalty after Crawley were penalised for a ruck offence in front of their posts.

Alton appeared to have extended their lead five minutes later when Eade hacked on a long Kieron Collins clearance kick, gathered and scored in the corner, but the referee rightly overruled the touch-judge and disallowed the score. But there was no mistake in the 52nd minute when scrum-half Dan Forsyth's impudent dart from the base of a rolling maul close to the visitors' line saw him slide over.

Ott made it 17-10 but once again the boot of Evans, working the corners adroitly, and the Crawley forwards kept Alton penned inside their 22 with another series of pick-and drives and rolling mauls.

Alton full-back Stephen Johns covered brilliantly to thwart Trueman from Evans' astute cross-kick, but the defence - especially in the forwards - proved to be unflinching.

Evans narrowed the deficit with a penalty but Alton extended their lead and all but sealed victory eight minutes from the end - and it was the hugely promising van Heerwijn who created it.

Once again, Crawley let a long Alton clearance go far too far and when Barnes attempted to deal with the bouncing ballin his 22 he found most of the Alton backs in his face. van Heerwijn tackled and stripped him of the ball, Forsyth slipped a simple pass to Eade, and Eade scored in the corner.

The cup-run has proved to be a pleasant distraction for Alton but they now need to start picking up league points. They will end 2007 with a crucial relegation battle at Farnborough on Saturday.

Alton: Johns; Eade, van Heerwijn, Ott, Ross; Collins, Forsyth; Happel, Parratt (c), Hopkin (Gay 13); France, Oliphant; Carter, Davies, MacDonell (Watts 62).

Tries: France, Forsyth, Eade;

Conversions: Ott (2);

Penalty: Ott.

Crawley: Evans (c); Trueman, Ealey, Chapman (Jones 75), Barnes; Leyshon, Steven Wilson; Andrew Wilson, Wolfe, Sparkes; Rees, de Coning; Worral, Maybank, Benton.

Try: Barnes;

Conversions: Evans;

Penalties: Evans (2).