Alton's U18s proved to be too strong for their Reading counterparts, running in four tries in a 24-0 friendly win at Anstey Park.

It was a largely one-sided affair and though the visitors never really threatened going forward, they defended their line as if their lives depended on it and made Alton work for victory.

Indeed, it took Alton 25 minutes to open the scoring when a quickly taken line-out surprised the Reading defence, Matt O'Connor broke from deep and his well-timed pass allowed centre Bart van Heerwijn to scamper over.

Alton extended their lead shortly after the interval when stand-off Ed Hubbard side-stepped his way clear down the blindside and put wing Henry Rice-Smith over in the left-hand corner.

Lock Stephen Osborne added a third, crashing over from close-range after a series of forward drives forwards, and hooker Matt Trollen completed the scoring when he broke from a maul and bullocked over from ten yards.

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