Alton Rugby Football Club

Alton down Wasps but there was a sting in the tail

Sat 26 Oct 2013, 15:00

Alton

38 - 27

Romsey

Romsey

Romsey Wasps fight back in last twenty minutes but Alton claim important win 38-27

In the end, this was a deserved victory for Alton, but to the players and coach Will Brewer, they may still have some concerns about the ultimate margin of victory. With Alton seemingly cruising to victory at 38-10 mid-way through the second half, Romsey mounted a spirited fightback and not for the first time this season, the last quarter became a defensive retreat for Alton, interspersed with frequent glances at the watch. With Alex Hayward leading the forwards at lock, Alton had already scored enough points to hold on and claim a win that takes them into the top half of Hampshire 1.

Alton charged out of the blocks. As Romsey looked on, the traditional pitch huddle was dispensed with by Alton who emerged from the Finnimore Pavilion, took their pitch positions and seemed intent on opening brightly. The forecasted hurricane appeared to have arrived early as Romsey players stared into horizontal rain for the opening kick off. With the wind at their backs, Alton camped down near the Romsey line for the first five minutes. Just as they seemed to have eased the pressure, hooker Luke Parratt burst down the line and Nick How opened the scoring.

The wind ferocity increased and for the second time, the Romsey kick off barely managed to go the required 10 yards. In the conditions, the Romsey pack wisely chose to not play an expansive game, committing large numbers to the ruck and mauls and they rumbled up field to reduce the deficit 7-5 after nine minutes.

Hayward and Adam Hoxey made good yards in midfield; for the whole game whenever Hayward emerged into Romsey back territory, they seemed to struggle with his power and pace. Hoxey, enjoying the space and time at centre, was also troubling the Wasps defence and from one of these mazy runs, Dylan Syralis touched down. It was then Hayward’s turn again to burst through the Wasps line, offloading to Matt Spencer who again put Syralis in for another score.

The Romsey team were reminded by their captain of  his minimum requirements from them and they responded well. Alton were penalised a few times for offside, culminating with the referee warning the captain for these repeated infringements. Romsey pulled a score back, again through forward dominance and utter determination rather than flowing rugby. The referee’s impatience finally ran out with Alton and Fran Williams was caught off side and sin-binned for 10 minutes shortly before half time.

The half time rallying call amongst the Romsey squad may have included the words “at least we have the wind behind us” but amazingly the wind subsided to Alton’s advantage. Hoxey nearly conjured a chance out wide but in the process pulled a hamstring and was substituted. With improved conditions, the Alton backs were getting more ball, with Adam Gallagher playing well in midfield and Matt Spencer joining the line at full back with speed. Bren Sumner linked up well with Gallagher to score Alton’s bonus point, followed shortly by Gallagher scoring again after quick recycling following another Hayward run.

The scrum was working well, with Alton definitely having the edge, although the scrum frequently wheeled left and right to hinder their forward momentum. Line outs were a lottery for both teams, as the hookers struggled to just keep the ball straight in the conditions. Finally Hayward was rewarded with a try of his own, as he burst through the Romsey defence again to score with around twelve minutes left on the clock. Great performance from him and at 38-10, the game was all but done.

However, like all wasps at this time of year, the Romsey Wasps were determined to hang around and not be easily dismissed. They scored three tries in the final ten minutes, obtained a bonus point of their own and were quicker to every ball.

The win was never in doubt for Alton but the final ten minutes took the shine off a win that was won through some great play in difficult conditions in the first sixty minutes. 

In other games in Hampshire 1, Solent University kept their 100% record and extended their lead at the top as Fordingbridge narrowly lost to Millbrook. 

Scoring: How try 5 mins (5-0); Gallagher con (7-0); Romsey try 9 mins (7-5) ; Syralis try 14 mins (12-5); Syralis try 22 mins (17-5), Gallagher con (19-5); Romsey try 35 mins (19-10); Gallagher try and con 48 mins (26-10); Gallagher try 59 mins (31-10); Hayward try 65 mins (36-10); Gallagher con (38-10) ; Romsey try and con 68 mins (38-17); Romsey try 72 mins (38-22); Romsey try (38-27)
H-T: 19-10

Referee: Wayne Morris (HRURS)

Go back