Alton travelled to maidenhead without several of their first choice players and so knew this was going to be a difficult game and so it proved.

Maidenhead had 32 players available and Alton brought 27 so to give all players a game it was decided to play in two 20 minute sessions and then to choose the on form players to play in the third session. This format worked well and gave game time to all, however it was Maidenhead who gained in confidence during the sessions as the score lines indicate.

Session 1 Maidenhead 15 Alton 12

Session 2 Maidenhead 26 Alton 5

Session 3 Maidenhead 26 Alton 0

Altons tries were scored by Zac Heath, Adam Murphy and Josh Saunders, who converted his try.

Although overall this was not a good day for the Alton squad there were several positive contributions made by the Alton players.

Tom Homans who led the first session ran himself into the ground and is turning into a very combatitive open side flanker. His tackle count in this session was outstanding and a good example to the rest of the team.

Will Ackroyd showed some tremendous strength and determination in the mauls but needs to develop his communication skills listening as well as talking!

Oli Pratt who played out of his usual position in the early sessions also can be proud of his days work producing his best tackle count of the season.

Rhys Jenkins, who earlier this season moved from the front row to the back row, also showed he is perfecting his tackling skills and becoming very effective at the break down.

Two of Alton's tries scored by Heath and Murphy both resulted from good following up and off loading when the determined Maidenhead defence tackled players just short of the try line.

However it was Alton's fly half, Sebastion Foreman who the Maidenhead coaching team decided was the "Alton man of the match" with his good hands and silky running asking many questions of the Maidenhead defence.

An enjoyable and testing day for the Alton squad.

A Scribe

ARFC