Alton’s 18 month long unbeaten home record ended on Saturday when United Services Portsmouth (USP) gained more than adequate revenge for last season’s 37 -0 defeat at Anstey Park.

Alton’s squad showed eight changes in personnel from last week and this did not help their control in attack or defence. Alton kicked off and showed their normal enthusiasm for taking the game to the opposition, perhaps a little too strongly for the referee, who penalised Alton for a dangerous tackle, USP claiming the three points from the resultant penalty.

USP then attracted the referee’s attention by holding on after the tackle with Alton’s Simon Ford equalling the score. USP began to create passing movements which threatened Alton’s line but stout defence from the home team kept them out reducing USP to a poor failed attempt at a drop goal. The resultant poor 22 metre restart undid all the previous good work allowing USP a free run in under the posts for a converted try. They quickly followed this with a further seven points through their centre following a well executed and flowing passing move.

Alton showed their character by taking the game back to the visitors and a good attack by Dylan Saralis led to a penalty when USP went over the top, unfortunately it was not converted.  Another good home move broke down due to poor ball retention and the visiting side had another easy run in for another try. Again Alton replied by attacking and following a poor clearance kick by USP they were held up twice in quick succession over the goal line.  Eventually prop Elliott Ross used his bulk to force the ball down although the conversion was missed.

USP literally threw away another seven points when, following good linking by the backs the potential scorer was penalised for a double movement in the act of grounding.  A good clearance by Alton brought up the half-time score of 8–24.

Ten minutes after the re-start USP were penalised for “shepherding” and Ford took the opportunity.  Five minutes later Alton again gave the ball away to allow another score under the posts, gifting USP their bonus point. Two breakaways by USP followed soon after; the first was superbly chased down by hooker Luke Parratt whose cover back tackle saved a certain try. Unfortunately he was not to hand when the USP number 5 galloped in under the posts. Two minutes later another Alton move broke down and the visitors’ number 14 kicked half the length of the field to set up another seven points.

USP completed the rout on full time running in their seventh try of the afternoon.

Scoring: USP pen 6 mins (0-3); Ford pen 10 mins (3-3); USP try & conversion 16 mins (3-10); USP try & conversion 19 mins (3-17); USP try & conversion 28 mins (3-24); Ross try 37 mins (8-24); Ford pen 50 mins (11-24); USP try & conversion 55 mins (3-31); USP try & conversion 60 mins (3-38); USP try & conversion 62 mins (3-45); USP try 79 mins (3-50).

The match referee was Chris Ings (HRURS).

Next Saturday (12th October) Alton return to Lower Brownhill Road in Redbridge, this time to take on Southampton who won their first game of the season last week 32 – 29 away to Isle of Wight. Alton must find their form for this game to maintain their mid-table position. Other results from Hampshire One this weekend means that there is now only one unbeaten side, Solent University; Fordingbridge losing away to Andover. Interestingly Alton’s last two conquerors, United Services and Solent meet at Portsmouth.