Friday night’s tour fundraiser was a great success – over £650 profit realised from ticket sales, Ady Blizzard’s magnificent curries, the raffle and entertainment from Dr Watson’s Boogie Band. A good night had by all, so we look forward to a successful tour of Edinburgh at Easter with playing shirts, leisure shirts and limited edition tour ties fully funded. Our grateful thanks to everyone who contributed on the night and turned out to support our lads.

Gosport rolled into Anstey Park having won 4 from 4 league matches to date, full of confidence on their march towards being Hampshire U15 champions. Awaiting them were the home side, not short of confidence themselves and well positioned in the league to ensure this match would be one that mattered in the final shake up. The weather was kind despite a cold wind and the pitch conditions reasonable.

Gosport started strongly, playing with the slope and the wind and dominated territory for most of the first half. Alton made uncharacteristic errors and conceded a string of penalties at the ruck which allowed Gosport to load even more pressure on the home side. Inevitably the pressure told, following a very soft converted try and a penalty half time was reached with the visitors 0-10 ahead, and good value for that lead.

By tightening up the game and playing the conditions, Alton were confident of clawing back the first half deficit once they had the conditions in their favour but it was Gosport, playing well with ball in hand who struck first with a try on the left flank. Now 0-15 behind it was finally Alton’s turn to wrestle control from Gosport and put them under pressure. Ralph Andrews grabbed a try from an attacking scrum 5 which Joe Gwyther converted. Shortly after Charlie Hibbert caught and returned a loose clearance kick 40 yards for a second try. Now it was 12-15 and all to play for, the momentum had swung towards Alton and the home crowd raised the ante.

A high tackle saw second row Dan Mortara in the bin for 10 minutes but to Alton’s credit they kept waves of Gosport attacks at bay and did not concede whilst down to 14. Dan returned for the final 6 minutes and Alton once again turned the screw on Gosport, now on the back foot and desperate to defend a slender lead. A penalty to Alton was kicked for touch when a shot at goal might have levelled the score. A further penalty was shanked and went dead, again another point scoring chance had come and gone.

Gosport saw out the final plays in their own 22 and resisted everything that Alton threw at them. The final whistle went at the end of a pulsating game and the honours went to Gosport. Gosport’s coaches were kind enough to concede that Alton had provided their sternest opposition of the season so far. Gosport had only conceded 13 points in their previous 4 league fixtures so Alton must take great credit and confidence from a combative performance, scoring 12 points and looking very dangerous and likely to score more and snatch the win. It was Alton's errors that cost them the game, a little more accuracy and composure would have brought a well-deserved win.

In the clubhouse afterwards the news came through that Winchester had defeated Portsmouth thus ending any remaining threat to Gosport’s title. It was a great privilege for Alton’s head coach to silence the bar and salute Hampshire’s new U15 champions. Well done to Gos!

Alton points:

Tries - Ralph Andrews, Charlie Hibbert

Conversion - Joe Gwyther

Other division one results today - New Milton 5 - 27 Petersfield ... Winchester 22 - 8 Portsmouth ... these results mean New Milton are relegated and Gosport are champions.