Alton's winning run is ended as high-fliers Camberley run riot.

Camberley host league-leaders Teddington on 26 February in a game that will decide the London 3 title and, on the evidence of Saturday's game at Watchetts, it should be a monumental affair. There is simply nothing between them. Camberley RFC should strongly consider charging an admission fee for that one.

What is patently clear, however, is that there is yawning chasm between them and the rest of teams in the league.

As with the Teddington game five weeks ago, Camberley were simply too big, too strong and too organised for an inexperienced and injury-ravaged Alton. On this showing, there is every indication that they will flourish in London 2 and possibly beyond.

Camberley - literally - dwarfed their opponents and gamely as they competed, Alton struggled to contain them in most areas of the field. The Camberley receivers hit the ball at pace, hit contact areas with venom and consequently hit Alton for nine tries. It was a case of the good big 'un being too just a little good for the good little 'un.

But for all the swagger and poise of their attacking game, it was scrum-half Tom Taylor and open-side flanker Warren Milne who were the glue that bound the side: the pint-sized Taylor's awareness and distribution were first-class but Milne was the water-carrier and all-round mopper-upper who really caught the eye. He was far and away the best forward on the park.

The good news for Alton is that they have played the top two twice and can now concentrate fully on maintaining their London 3 status. Their chief concern is with the injury-list, which grows alarmingly following the departures of skipper Jimmy Gay, Adam Baker, Bart van Herwijnen and Mark Crowther.

For all Camberley's dominance, the scoreline was a trifle harsh on Alton. They trailed 35-16 at the hour mark and only really folded shortly after they were reduced to 14 when full-back Bart van Herwijnen limped off with a quarter-of-an-hour remaining. They simply ran out of gas.

Replacement wing Dan Lucas then claimed a quickfire hat-trick and Zac Crabb crossed to finish off a gallant but ultimately overpowered Alton side.

Prior to the closing minutes Alton were a distant second-best, for sure, but they had certainly shown few signs of capitulating, despite the injury chaos unfolding around them.

Shane Watts and Will Ford scrapped magnificently, while Alton's quartet of teenagers - Nick Ovens, Tim Salmon, Callum Watkins and Christo Arundel - acquitted themselves admirably in the face of a relentless onslaught from bigger and stronger opponents.

And Alton's slightly-built wing Adam Gill must have felt he was tackling hordes of wildebeests, such were the defensive demands forced upon him. Tackle them he did and Gill, like his team-mates, earned his spurs big time.

After conceding two early tries and seeing skipper Gay forced to leave the park, Alton's problems at the scrum and line-outs were exposed. And with little set-piece ball to work off in the first half, they were repeatedly forced to scramble in defence.

First-up tackles were missed and Alton were unnecessarily cavalier when they did get their hands on the ball. When they kept it simple, they were far more effective and showed that Camberley's defence was not impregnable.

It was a fast and loose, point-a-minute first half. At times it seemed it was a turnover-per-minute first half, too, as both sides repeatedly ceded possession.

The problem for Alton was that when they coughed up possession, Camberley showed greater continuity and composure on the ball and they seemingly fashioned try-scoring chances at will.

Stand-off James Justice crossed twice and there were tries too for full-back Ed Lea, wing Graeme Smith and centre Tony Harbour as Camberley ran riot in the opening period, leading 29-11 at the break.

But Alton rallied either side of half time.

Watkins scored an opportunist try after Camberley failed to control a line-out on their own line and Watts touched down from a driving maul to remind the home faithful that there were two teams at the party.

Normal service was resumed shortly thereafter. Crabb slotted three penalties before Camberley signed off with their late flourish.

But Camberley's hopes of making any headway against leaders Teddington were dashed by news that the south London side had hammered Fordingbridge 88-13 at Bushy Park. Teddington need just three more points to guarantee promotion.

For Alton, more winnable, more important games lie in wait. They host Sandown and Shanklin this Saturday (2.30 kick-off) before facing a relegation eight-pointer at Old Wimbledonians the following weekend. Win both and they should be assured of London 3 rugby next season - a London 3 without Camberley and Teddington.

Camberley: Lea; Smith (Lewis), Riley, Harbour ©; Justice, Taylor; Pengilly, Rise, Mugford (Brown); Gould, Short; Milne, Beukes (Angell), Hughes.

Tries: Lea (4), Justice (8, 20), Smith (24), Harbour (30), Lucas (63, 66, 75), Crabb (69).
Conversions: Crabb (5);
Pens: Crabb (41, 54, 57).

Yellow card: Milne (78).

Alton: van Herwijnen; Salmon, Richards, Ott, Gill; Crowther (Law, 49), Arundel; Happel, Parratt, Gay © (Ovens, 22); Ford, Oliphant; Watts, Watkins, Baker (Gerlach, 48).

Tries: Watkins (37), Watts (48);
Pens: Ott (2, 29)

HT: 29-11.

Referee: David Levy (Berkshire Society).

Other London 3SW results:

London South Africa 17 - 36 Ellingham & Ringwood;

Old Alleynians 14 - 10 Sandown & Shanklin;

Old Wellingtonians 26 - 28 Petersfield;

Teddington 88 - 13 Fordingbridge;

Winchester 51 - 8 Old Wimbledonians