There were some tired faces on the minibuses as Alton rolled up to the Jersey clubhouse, and some still wet and cold after being put to the sea after breakfast by Judge Dave Gwyther for tour misdemeanours. We had Dai from La Place to thank for the match being on; after Saturday night's mild tempest the game was apparently called off by an over-protective groundsman, even as the squad warmed up the issue of which pitch to play on still seem unresolved by our hosts. Finally, pitch 4 was confirmed and despite a little standing water looked and proved to be eminently playable. As the warm up drew to a close, Richard Blizzard confirmed that his knee was unable to take any weight. This took the injured list up to 4 with hooker Tom Bugler (shoulder), second row Joe Randall (fingers) and chairman Dave (unfinished Martini.)

Alton played with the conditions (a mild breeze we'd call that in Wales) in the first half and received the kick off. Jersey fielded a strong team as the Alton coaches sent a search party out for subs. It was Jersey who hit their straps with some powerful forward thrusts and hand offs - this game was full on right from the off! Soon Jersey were ahead, sucking the defence in with forward runs and moving ball elegantly and purposefully to the hands of their strong and pacy wingers. It was one-way traffic and Jersey surged into a commanding lead of 10-0 before Alton started to find some territory and possession.

Alton laid seige to the Jersey 22 and from an attacking scrum 5, Charlie Hibbert used superb front crawl to emerge from the sodden corner and drive into the Jersey midfield. Jersey fended him off with some back stroke and butterfly but infringed at the ruck. The pressure eventually told as Joe Gwyther hit a gap and touched down, soon adding the breeze-assisted extras.

No sooner had Alton settled into the tempo and power of the game than Jersey upped the ante once again, the pressure leading to Alton defensive errors. From a clearing kick the Jersey 15 fielded the ball and sent his winger into space to outflank Alton once again on the right. This time the extras were kicked into the breeze and the half ended with the home side 17-7 ahead and very content in the knowledge that they had the conditions at their back in the second half.

The levels of aggression and power in this game left head coach Bugler with some concerns about the depth of the remaining bench. Apart from the scrummage, where the scratch front row of Alex Heath, Ed Pasfield and Alfonso Ledesma had been awesome, Alton were looking second best in all aspects of play. It wasn't going to be enough to be game for the fight in the second half. The coaches looked to the bench on the grassy knoll and asked for willing volunteers to step up - Ben Coleman was the man with the fight in him.

The second half kicked off and soon Jersey were making the most of the conditions and kicked Alton unmercifully into their 22. The door to the try line was repeatedly knocked on and eventually pushed through - Jersey now 22-7 ahead and a long second half loomed for the visitors. Just when it seemed the game was up Alton found some inner strength ... they were running everything but it was a neat grubber from their own try line that led to full back Ed Simmons flyhacking ahead and pressurising his opposite number. A Jersey knock on and Alton had won a scrum in midfield. Alton continued with ball in hand and moved the Jersey defence left and right before creating the overlap on the left which saw Josh Smith slide over the line, leaving a wake of muddy water and cheering team mates. Was a fight back really on?

It didn't look like it. Jersey were able to make ground easily with both ball in hand and with kicks to the corners and once again had Alton pinned in their 22. 5 minutes left. A line out, a maul and a ruck and Joe Gwyther found himself in possession with the entire Jersey side bearing down on him. A sidestep, a dummy and suddenly Joe had broken the line. Still 3 or 4 Jersey defenders looked certain to chase him down. Joe switched the ball to his left arm and used his hand off to great effect, the desperate defenders fell off the tackle and Joe made it to the corner for an incredible solo try. This was top class rugby and better than anything seen in the preceeding 6 Nations matches in the clubhouse. The score now 22-19 and the spectators could hardly believe the game was so close after so much Jersey possession and territory. The visitors had seen this kind of come back before though!  Been there, done it, got the T shirt on under several other layers ... and the inner belief to do it again!

Jersey kicked off and an invigorated Alton team set about the slow but sure march back up the pitch ... the handling now assured and matching the superb skills which Jersey had shown earlier. Only a fool would suggest a rugby match could not be played on this pitch and in these conditions. Once again the Alton backs moved the ball left and right, to stretch the defence and look for gaps. Just as a try seemed inevitable James Forrest knocked on and Alton's last chance seemed to have floated off on the breeze ... but no, had it not been spotted? The ref gave a line out to Alton and there was to be one more chance.

The line out was won, the ball moved and very fittingly it was Joe Gwyther once again who crossed the line for his hat trick of tries. The conversion didn't reach the goal line as the breeze threw the ball back but no matter, the ref blew for full time and a hard fought contest was over with the unlikliest of come backs. 22-24 and this Alton side put another notch on the touring belt made from never-say-die spirit. The clubhouse beckoned, a welcome shower and lasagna for the deserving players, one or two swift bevvies for the coaches and parents.

Despite the final result the real winners on the day were the Jersey 1st XV who took the game to Alton in the first half against the conditions, and their bench who so nearly withstood the Alton fightback. Alton award their ball to Jersey winger Zack Boakye-Yiadom for his mazy running and two superb finishes on the right flank. Jersey in return handed Alton captain Joe Gwyther a ball and two man-of-match prizes - one for winger Charlie Rands and the other for #8 Charlie Hibbert. That was a superb gesture from Jersey, recognising the relative rugby strengths of the cutting edge and the blunt instrument, also an emotional welcome back to Hibbert after such a long lay off with his broken hip.

The Jersey club are the most hospitable of hosts and we thank them warmly for looking after us on this mini-tour. We also wish them all the best in their final League fixture against Portsmouth on 7th March. Fingers crossed, Jersey will stay in Hampshire 1 next season, but irrespective we'd love to come back!

Alton's tour concluded with a couple of games in the 10 pin bowling alley next door, Alfonso Ledesma picked up Players' Player of the Tour - quite excellent recognition of the contribution from one of our tour virgins! Josh Smith picked up the Tour Gump award for, well there's not enough space here, and Kieran Beardsall was THE MELONATOR!  Don't ask why .... what goes on tour, stays on tour!

Alton Points

Tries - Joe Gwyther (3), Josh Smith

Conversions - Joe Gwyther (2)