Alton strengthen their league position after a superb defensive display sets up victory at Old Alleynian.

A house must be built on solid foundations if it is to last. By the looks of things, Alton's caretaker coach Brian Saunders will leave Anstey Park at the end of January with some solid groundwork in place.

Alton's defence, especially in a torrid opening forty minutes, was stupendously good and several notches higher than at any stage in this topsy-turvy season. They rode their luck, racked up the penalties and had Will Ford - perhaps unluckily - sent to the bin, but their organisation and sheer bloody-minded refusal to let Alleynians cross their line ultimately earned them this priceless London 3 win.

Alleynians did manage a try courtesy of excellent number eight Andy Wheble but for all their possession, territory and fluency in the opening period they could only muster a 5-0 interval lead - and that was reversed immediately after the restart courtesy of a scintillating Adam Gill try, converted by Steve Ott.

Gareth Richards then extended the visitors' lead with a superb solo effort and Billy Barron's late penalty for Alleynians was not enough to deny Alton  their fourth win on the road. They worth well worth it.

It was a bruising, absorbing affair that could have been a classic but the heavy underfoot conditions and endless chirp of referee Rene Rambridge's whistle affected the pace and fluidity of the game.

Both sets of players showed plenty of endeavour and enterprise but were often visibly bewildered at the official's decisions at the breakdown areas and set-pieces.

Alleynians were particularly frustrated at how he controlled the scrum, where they felt they had a slight edge. The players may have had a point but the show must go on.

For Alton, Adam Baker, Bruce Oliphant and Ford carried brutally, teenage flanker Callum Watkins tackled relentlessly. The forwards employed and the pick-and-drive to great effect, especially when they needed to calm the game down in the dying moments.  Elsewhere, the returning Ott at centre gave Alton's midfield a defensive solidity, not to mention a hefty relieving right boot.

And then there was Gareth Richards. He is never flashy but his defensive excellence is augmented by an ability to read and anticipate the game around him - an intuitive skill that few players possess. If Alton had to nominate a match-winner, it was he.
 
For their part, Alleynians were quite excellent in the opening period. Sprightly and fluent from the start, they ran the phases well and surged at Alton with wave after attacking wave.

Back-row pair Wheble and flanker Charlie Southern were at the hub of everything for Alleynians while stand-off Barron orchestrated matters, varying the focus of the attack cleverly.

But while Alton were able to break the line and seize the few opportunities that came their way, more often than not Alleynians hit a red-and-black wall or couldn't apply the scoring finish when the chance came.

They should have scored twice before Wheble's opener: wing Greg Stafford lost the ball over the line and a combination of Jimmy Gay and Ford managed to hold up Wheble from a five-metre scrum.

Wheble did eventually cross for a 21st-minute try after the Alleynians pack drove over the seven-man Alton scrum but a five-point lead was a meagre reward for a half that they dominated.

So it proved as Alton scored just 31 seconds after the restart with a try born of counter-attacking brilliance. Baker gathered the restart, drove up to the 22 and soft hands from Ott and Crowther unleashed Richards, who dashed a full 50 metres before working Gill over.

Ott converted and Alton stretched their lead when scrum-half Christo Arundel cleverly switched the direction of attack and freed Richards who, faced with two props, had the space and pace to accelerate clear and charge over from 30 yards.

Barron's 66th-minute penalty gave Alleynians hope and caused the visitors some hairy moments but Alton held their nerve to secure four crucial league points.

With London 3SW results once again defying logic Alton could, theoretically, find themselves in the top four if they can beat bottom club London South Africa at Anstey Park this Saturday (2.15pm kick-off).


Old Alleynian: Rosier (Abayomi; R Jones); O Jones, Clarke, Kent, Stafford; Barron ; Hopkins, Fison (Popham), van der Westhuizen; Stockdale, Austin; Thomas, Southern, Wheble.

Try: Wheble (21);

Penalty: Barron (66).

Alton: Forsyth; O'Connor, Richards, Ott, Gill; Crowther, Arundel; Osborne, Gay (c), Ovens; Ford, Oliphant; Watts, Watkins (Carter, 44), Baker.

Tries: Gill (41), Richards (52);
Conversion: Ott.

H-T: 5-0

Referee: Rene Rambridge (London Society)

Other London 3SW results:

Fordingbridge 26 - 26 Old Wimbledonians;    
London South Africa 8 - 43 Camberley;   
Old Wellingtonians 11 - 18 Ellingham & Ringwood;    
Teddington 24 - 17 Sandown & Shanklin;    
Winchester 5 - 7 Petersfield.