Alton knew that their home match on Saturday would be very difficult, and so it proved. United Services are the league team of the season. After twelve matches they are now ten points clear at the top of the table. They have won every match and achieved a try bonus point in every game.

Alton have struggled lately, however five out of their last seven fixtures have been against teams in the top half of the table. They are now showing a degree of consistency in selection and playing with the same team members week to week is enabling a style of play to develop. Despite the score-line, Alton showed again on Saturday that they are hard to beat. Four of the opposition's tries coming from breakdowns in play on the visitors’ own goal-line.

Both halves were very similar with USP scoring three tries in the first quarter and four tries in the third quarter. However, in the second and third quarters, Alton pinned their opposition down for most of the time in their own 22 metre area. Mainly through Alton’s very committed pack, who were very unfortunate not to score, particularly when the ball was dropped on the goal line giving USP the opportunity for one of their breakaway tries. USP though broke the pattern when they scored their eighth try just before the final whistle.

Referee - Bruce Carle (HRURS)

Alton have a re-arranged fixture this Saturday away to Bognor, kick-off 2:30 p.m. Again this won’t be easy with Bognor currently lying second in the league, behind US Portsmouth.