Trojans deal a major blow to Alton's promotion aspirations in Anstey Park mud-bath.

Alton's promotion hopes are hanging by a thread after they were edged out by league-leaders Trojans in appalling conditions at Anstey Park.

A well-worked first-half try by lock David Strange and a Ben Collins penalty halfway through the second half were enough to see off Alton, for whom Steve Ott landed a penalty goal.

But it was a deeply unsatisfying game in which neither team was able to express itself.

Heavy rain at the end of the first half rendered a waterlogged, muddy Anstey Park virtually unplayable and the game descended into near farce in the second half. Not that Trojans will care one bit.

As with Hampshire Bowl semi-final two weeks ago, the occasion deserved better. But it was hardly the players' fault: this was not so much a clash between the third- and first-placed sides but a four-way tournament involving Alton and Trojans, the mud and the rain.

But the league-leaders, beaten just once all season, did enough, and they played like a side that is used to grinding out results in games like these.

They have leaders and strong characters in their side. Number eight Strange, skipper Tim Higham - who constantly managed to slow or steal Alton possession at the breakdowns - and Peter Stringer lookalike Simon Matthews at scrum-half enjoyed massively influential games.

Alton had their lions too - flanker Silas Jones and lock Richard White competed ferociously, while scrum-half Jason Grace, his job made increasingly difficult by the attentions of the Trojans back-row and a sodden ball, showed some neat improvisational touches in a composed display.

There was nothing between the two sides but the key difference on this occasion was discipline; Trojans were organised and managed to keep infringements to a minimum.

By contrast, Alton conceded 13 second-half penalties, 20 in all, a statistic that suggests why they lost this game.

Turning around at 5-3 down, Alton had the slope and most of the possession but they simply gave far too many penalties away. Their indiscipline and the shocking conditions meant that they could not mount any serious pressure on the Trojans rearguard. From a coaching viewpoint, handling errors are understandable; 20 penalties are 20 reasons to be concerned.

Most of the first-half action took place between the 22s as both sides sought to create openings, but space and time were at a premium.

It was, despite the mud, an absorbing and fiercely competitive contest between two well-matched, well-organised sides.

The visitors edged possession and territory in the the first quarter and though Collins fell short with a 17th-minute penalty, Trojans duly took the lead with a well-worked catch and rolling maul, Strange claiming the try in the right-hand corner.

But Alton rallied and dominated the final 15 minutes of the half.

Ott reduced the deficit after Trojans were penalised for offside and a series of drives and rolling mauls brought Alton close.

The home side may have had some cause for complaint when a rolling maul was pulled down three yards from the line shortly before the interval but other chances came and were spurned, and Trojans retained their narrow lead.

Then the rain came and the game degenerated, making ball retention and the execution of even the basic skills nearly impossible. Consequently, the game lost all semblance of fluidity.

And time and time again, Alton fell foul of referee Stuart Scott's whistle. They were eventually punished when Collins slotted a tricky 30-yard penalty 17 minutes from time to extend the lead and make Alton's job all the tougher.

It was too much to ask and Trojans saw out time to claim the victory and almost certain promotion to London 4.

Alton must now rely on second-placed Ellingham & Ringwood to slip up if they are to claim the sole play-off spot.

They now have two trips to the New Forest: first, they take on new Milton before a crucial game against E&R on 17 March.

Alton; B Wallace; B Oliphant, J Rees, S Ott, D Forsyth; S Johns, J Grace; S Watts, L Parratt (c), J Gay; R White, M France; S Jones, A Davies, A Hayward (W Carter 41).

Pen: Ott (29).

Trojans: B Collins; G Ritson, C Boyd, G Fitzgerald, R Clarke; A Surtees, S Matthews; R Kochanowsky, D Linton, Cooke; M Knight, Martin; T McIntosh), J Higham (c), D Strange.

Try: Strange (21); Pen: Collins (62).

(Pictured: prop James Gay lends his weight to an Alton drive)