With over 38 boys turning up for today’s match Alton tried to give everyone some game time and priority in the first half was to give those players who weren’t involved last week some match experience.

In order to ensure maximum participation, Alton played the first half with a weaker side, saving the stronger side for the second half. Playing against a strong opposition, Alton had conceded fifty unanswered points by half time. The main points for the home side to learn are that you must make your tackles man on man. This was not happening and after the first two tries were conceded Alton lost their will and were visibly deflated. They also lacked a clear understanding of what defensive system they were using which left gaps in the defensive formation which were successfully exploited by Farnborough.

At half time Alton, with the agreement of Farnborough, put on fifteen new players and a much more even match followed. Alton opened the scoring with an intercept try and added two further tries but conceded one in a second half which produced only twenty points.

Alton struggled against a very determined and aggressive Farnborough defence which on many occasions closed down the outside channels forcing Alton to cut back inside where the attacks lost momentum. The Alton backs were put under a lot of pressure which on a sticky pitch produced a larger number of errors than normal.

Although Alton scored more points in the second half with tries by Douglas Wickes, Rhys Jenkins and Josh Saunders this match was a bit of a reality check after the euphoria which followed last week’s fixture.
 
We still have a lot of work to do boys…

Ed Thomas (Captain)