Alton Rugby Football Club

Bognor Outnumber Alton

Sat 07 Dec 2013, 14:15

Bognor

73 - 5

Alton

xxx

This was a much more closely contested match, particularly in the first half than the final score suggests.

This was the first encounter between the two clubs during the "league era" and it is regrettable that Alton were unable to give a better account of themselves. Again they experienced selection and availability problems with only seventeen selected on Thursday, the situation worsened by two further drop-outs on Saturday morning!

Half-hour gone in the first half and the game was finally balanced at 5 - 5; Bognor having scored after nine minutes and Alton through Simon Ford on nineteen minutes.

After thirty minutes of play, a poor Alton clearance kick gave away vital possession and eventually the home side scored a try from a somewhat scruffy ruck/maul on the Alton goal line.  Just before half-time Bognor followed this up with a converted try when Alton, having been penalised for not rolling away, failed to react quickly enough to the quick thinking Bognor players.

Alton lost two players early in the second-half with flanker Tom Smethurst, who had been the team's action man, dislocating his shoulder and a second forward, James Rowe, sustaining a back injury. With no replacements it became Alton's thirteen against Bognor's eighteen with the home side having three replacements available on the touchline!

Although Alton's minority played well above themselves and held their hosts at bay, eventually the difference in numbers allowed Bognor to successfully run through all the various moves they had practised in training. The home side scored eight tries in the second-half with five being scored in the last ten minutes, as Alton tired badly!

Next Saturday Alton are away again with the first of their return league fixtures against Overton. Overton were promoted last season from Hampshire Two, but are currently lying bottom of the league with one win to their credit, interestingly at home to Bognor!

This is a must win game for Alton, who won the earlier encounter 30 -13, to ensure that they do not sink into the relegation ooze at the bottom of the league.

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