Alton's young side face a journey into the unknown as the new season beckons.

Young, gifted and back in the London leagues. But exactly how young and gifted this current crop of Alton players are will become clear in coming months.

The 2009/2010 season, in which they swept to the Hampshire One title with just a single defeat, is now but a distant memory. New, stiffer challenges await; London, Division 3 rugby will be much, much tougher.

But the signs so far have been positive. Occasionally awesome, but often disjointed, in their six-try hammering of London side Old Hamptonians, defensive frailties in their 31-26 win against a physically intimidating and talented SEME side caused some concern.

That said, Alton trailed 26-14 with just 13 minutes remaining and their ability to fashion a win from such a desperate situation gave skipper Jimmy Gay huge satisfaction.

"Our first-up tackling was poor but to turn around a 12-point deficit in the last few minutes was fantastic. We know it's going to be a tough season but we showed that the never-say-die spirit we showed last season is still there.

"As for this season, our first priority to stay up," says Gay. "There has been lots of talk about winning the league but I am more concerned about staying up and consolidating. We have a great group of players but at this stage we don't know how good we are. We'll find out soon enough."

A disappointing 19-12 defeat at Andover - somewhat unluckily relegated to Hampshire One last season - completed Alton's warm-up campaign and now, the formalities done with, Fordingbridge are the visitors to Anstey Park for the London Division 3 opener this Saturday (3pm kick-off).

This season is likely to be something of a journey into the unknown for Alton because they simply do not know how good they are or how good the opposition is likely to be.

What they do know is that there will be plenty of trips to Hampshire. London Division 3 is amply represented by Hampshire folk: Alton, Sandown and Shanklin, Ellingham and Ringwood, Winchester and old friends Petersfield will be scrapping it out in the coming eight months. With the league including the likes of Camberley, London South Africa, Teddington and Old Wimbledonians, there will be plenty of away-days to more exotic parts for the Alton faithful.

Teddington are favourites to win the league but there are any number of high-quality sides capable of taking the title honours.

So what for Alton?

Firstly, there is the return of Steve Ott. An often inspirational player in his two seasons at Anstey Park - before he took the number 10 shirt at Portsmouth - he is a class act at inside centre but the performances of lanky teenage stand-off Christo Arundel that have impressed.

Prop Nick Ovens and John McHarg have also showed well. McHarg, son of former Scottish international Alistair, can play wing or full-back and he has blossomed in the pre-season games.

The return of totemic players such as utility Shane Watts and Adam Baker will create plenty of back-row selection headaches for head coach Jonathan Arundel - not that he will mind.

If there is one concern, it is that the squad lacks experience, particularly in this higher level of rugby. Winston Carter and Sam Law - both of whom have retired at least three times - have committed themselves to the club for another season, and their experience will be crucial in coming months.

There is also the added prospect of two more Alton v Petersfield games (11 December and 26 March): the two games last season were hum-dingers and superb advertisements for grass-roots rugby.

So here we go again. Another eight months of rugby heaven. Let it commence.