The overnight frost caught out a few drivers on the A31 and B3006 but for once it was not hard enough to prevent a game taking place. A match at last!

Respect to Eastleigh who took the game to Alton throughout and belied their league 3 status. The Pirates put on a display of forward power which was immensely improved on last season, together with a much more solid defensive game they proved very difficult for Alton to break down. Indeed the Pirates were the better team on the day and will feel aggrieved not to have won it. In the first half Big Harry took a quick ball at the front of a 5 meter line out and crashed over the try line ... only he overdid it and crashed over the dead ball line too! Alton were lucky not to be 5 points down. It was Alton who led at half time, much against the run of play, when finally a penalty tap was moved wide for James Airey to wrong foot the defence and step infield from the left wing to score.

The second half, which saw 11 changes by Alton, followed much the same pattern as the first, with Eastleigh's forwards dominating possession and territory and Alton's backs unable to move in the sticky surface. Well, I say backs, but due to the current forward/back imbalance in the squad and having another 5 backs missing, it was actually forwards pressed into backline service. With so many players out of position it was perhaps inevitable that the team would lose its shape. Overlaps were created several times in the backline but weren't spotted or exploited - time and time again it was a forward who took the ball back into contact rather than spread the play to put unmarked wingers in for easy tries. This is to take nothing away from Eastleigh though, who fronted up well. Eastleigh grabbed an equalising score and even crashed over the line near the end for a second, but the ball hidden away in a pile of players was adjudged held up.

So on the positive side for Alton - a game at last to knock out some of the rustiness, 26 players getting a run out for the first time since 21 November. Also a good learning experience for those playing outside of their normal positions - always good to get a very different perspective on the game.

For Eastleigh - a confidence-boosting performance and result against League 1 opposition, well done to the Pirates and good luck in your remaining fixtures.

Both Hampshire U15 and Hampshire U15A achieved good wins against Sussex at Fordingbridge today, well done to the Alton lads involved.

Teams for the friendly match v Eastleigh.