Alton Rugby Football Club

Competitive Alton hold Millbrook until the last few minutes.

Sat 21 Feb 2015, 14:30

Alton

5 - 28

Millbrook

Millbrook

Ian Thorn Leads Another Alton Drive

The pitches in Anstey Park were again waterlogged and unplayable but with the kind co-operation of Eggar's School, the match was played on the neighbouring school pitch.

Again Alton were playing one of the top teams in the league, fourth placed Millbrook, but this game had an interesting twist in that Gavin Evans, Millbrook's player coach held the same position with Alton earlier this season.

The first twenty minutes of the game was keenly contested with both teams testing the opposition’s defence.  Both teams had penalty opportunities but these were not converted into points. After twenty minutes, Alton's attack was halted by a good tackle into touch. At the resulting line out, Alton worked the ball clear but a pass went astray and Millbrook pounced on the loose ball and charged down the park.  Excellent tackling by Alton stopped the charge and the visitors were penalised. Unfortunately the clearance kick did not find touch and Millbrook were eventually tackled into touch, ten metres from the try line. A transgression by Alton in the line out allowed the visitors to take the penalty quickly and score below the posts. Score 0-7. On thirty minutes Alton’s line was saved again when the Millbrook backs were penalised for crossing.

The Alton forwards took control for the last ten minutes of the half with driving mauls forcing their opponents back, one of which moved the game twenty metres!  Eventually Alton drove over the line but Millbrook were able to hold the ball up and secure a half-time score of 0-7.

Ten minutes after the restart an Alton player was sin-binned for discussing matters with the referee and the visitors immediately took advantage of the inequality in numbers to record their second converted try.

In recent weeks this may have caused Alton heads to drop but an excellent backs move saw full-back Will Hamer take out two defenders with a well-executed dummy releasing centre Mark Heffernan to score Alton’s first try in some 230 minutes of rugby.

Alton kept the ball in the opponents’ half for most of the remainder of the game but Millbrook eventually broke out to score two further converted tries to secure the bonus point.

Our heatfelt thanks to Eggar's School for providing a pitch to play this fixture.

Referee - Mike Gill (HRURS).

Alton 1st XV do not have a league game this weekend with their next fixture being at home on Saturday 7th March, when they host Fareham Heathens. KO 14.30.

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