Once again Alton has had to play a home fixture at Lords Wandsworth College because Anstey Park remains waterlogged following yet another week of heavy rain.

Alton continued to show the improvements in skill and competitiveness of the last few games.  However they continue to be too generous in allowing other teams too much room to manoeuvre and too much time to attack.

Although the pitch surface was in good condition and Alton are grateful to LWC for allowing its use, one of the problems with playing at Long Sutton is that the pitches are on top of a hill wide open to the elements. Andover kicked off with the gale at their backs.  For the first ten minutes, although Andover were moving and passing well, Alton managed with stout defence to keep them out; the highlight being a try saving tackle by Adam Hoxey.  Eventually Andover was awarded a scrummage under the posts and as they had already demonstrated on a couple of occasions, were able to drive Alton back off the ball to score.  The try was converted.

Fortunately the visitors did not make good use of the wind nor were they able to put together the quality of rugby they produced back in November, when they won 107 - 3; passes went to ground or were knocked on.  Alton ensured that these errors were pounced on and the attacks snuffed out.

Alton in fact took on the mantle of running rugby and Andover were forced into desperate defence with stand-off Joe Gwyther distributing well, Bren Sumner causing problems in Andover’s defence with excellent breaks and Number 8 George Damen smashing big holes in the opposite forwards.

It took Andover until five minutes before half-time to add to their score when they resorted to the strength of their scrummage in the tight, again scoring a pushover try to take the score to 0 -14.

Early in the second half Andover were penalised for holding on, Gwyther accepted the 3 points on offer.   Unfortunately Alton relaxed, which Andover sensed and from the kick-off they were awarded a line out from which they collected their third try. This was not converted.

Alton now buckled down to the task in hand and encamped in their visitors’ half.  Eventually they were rewarded when their pressure caused an Andover move to break down, Adam Hoxey pounced on the loose ball and forced his way over with Gwyther converting, taking the score to 10 – 19.

Alton threatened to add to their total with scrum-half Mark Crowther (later awarded man of the match) and winger Ed Lowman particularly in evidence. Lowman was unfortunate when following a forty metre run, fumbled the ball with just one man to beat.

The two teams continued to cancel each other out until Andover reverted to forward pressure and sixty minutes into the game scored a converted try. Five minutes later they put the result out of Alton’s reach with a further 5 points.

This did not mean that Alton gave up; in fact they dominated the remaining fifteen minutes, but were unable to add to their score even when an Andover player was sin-binned following repeated offences.  Skipper and hooker Luke Parratt, who would be celebrating a milestone birthday the next day, nearly earned himself an early present when he was literally held up over the line.

Matchday referee was David Martin (HRURS).

Alton does not have a league fixture this weekend.  However they are due to play Farnborough away on 1^st March, kick-off 15:00.  If Alton can play as they have in the last few games they can look to avenge Farnborough’s 21 – 25 win in early November at Anstey Park.