Two development fixtures on the bounce has produced a good rest for the regular 1st XV players who we're hoping will return from county, injury and X-box fresh for the forthcoming match against Newbury A.

No problems with the clocks going back but one player failed to notice it was an away fixture, arriving at Anstey Park at 10am by which time everyone else was at Fawley - no problem as he got a second half outing. Alton's Development squad turned out 20 players in all and their finishing power was the difference in an otherwise well-matched contest. The scoreline flattered Alton and Fawley will relish a return fixture with 2 or 3 of their key players back from holiday.

It would be unfair to single out individuals (other than the scorers below) when it was a full squad performance on the day that merited the win. A triumph for cohesion and structure in a game frought with error, perhaps inevitable when two scratch sides play in such wet conditions. If only we could get our squad up from 30 to 40+, we'd certainly have a B-side capable of competing in League Division 3 whilst the 1st XV are playing their League Division 1 games. On the other hand having a large but single squad is a foundation stone in our greater cohesion and sense of togetherness.

Coach David Bugler turned 50 last week (who would've believed that of such a good looking whipper-snapper?) and the development squad have done him proud with two 50-point scores on either side of his own half-century. Not only that Alton U15s final try in this game was their 50th of the season, just 2 months in.

Alton points:-
Tries - Andy Austin, Kieran Beardsall, James Forrest (2), Freddy Roach, Will Hamer (3)
Conversions - Will Hamer (5)