Gaffe-prone Alton give Winch the points in a thriller.

A super game; grass-roots rugby at its rawest, passionate best.

Both sides could have won but Winchester came out on top because they made fewer mistakes and showed more maturity, especially when the game was at its tightest. In contrast, Alton's tactical naivety cost them dear; they also made errors when it mattered most.

Ultimately, Winch won because Alton handed the game to them - notably, the second-half interception try took the wind out of Alton's sails just as they were looking to take control.

"We need to learn to win in London 3," said Alton skipper Jimmy Gay. "It's a step up for us but we are a much better side than last season.

"Our backs were great and the forwards have been outstanding, but we keep making errors at key times. We can't afford to make mistakes because sides will punish you in this league. This is not the Hampshire league rugby. There are some excellent sides and if you give them half a yard, they will murder you."

An entertaining, roller-coaster of a game in which both sides dominated for lengthy periods was ultimately decided by two key second-half incidents.

Firstly, Winch stand-off's 61st-minute interception try gave them a crucial 22-15 lead, but it was the city side's score from a dead-ball area charge-down that gave them an unassailable 34-15 lead with just nine minutes left on the clock.

In-between times, it was nip and tuck and a game that Alton could have grabbed by the scruff of its neck but for some poor decision-making, poor execution, naive tactics and the odd howler. They will learn. They are good enough to do so.

Winchester dominated the initial minutes and opened the scoring on 11 minutes, only to see Alton reply immediately - centre Gareth Richards benefitting from a clever Steve Ott dummy run to dart over for his side's opening try.

A splendid offload from the Winch open-side flanker gifted their prop and a try and a 24-minute 17-5 lead, following an earlier penalty, following an earlier penalty.

But Alton responded with aplomb, five minutes before the break. Richards' splendid dummy run allowed Ott to stroll in for a try, which the big centre duly converted. A 17-12 half-time lead meant it was game on.

Ott's 50th-minute penalty narrowed it to 17-15 but the key moment came just after the hour mark when a stray pass gave Winch's stand-off a clear interception run-in; a catch-and drive six minutes later made it 29-17 and the game was effectively won for the city side.

Winchester wing's charge-down made it 34-15, but Will Ford's 80th-minute try salvaged some respect for Alton side who were much better than the score suggested.

Back to the drawing-board for Alton, but they should not be too down-hearted, The forwards, as ever, were outstanding; centres Richards and Ott are wonderfully gifted players, and 18-year-old Christo Arundel is shaping up to be a high-class stand-off.

Teddington, a well-funded and upwardly-mobile club, visit Anstey Park this Saturday (3pm kick-off). A stiff challenge for the Anstey Park outfit for for sure, but there is enough talent in this current crop of players to make it an intriguing encounter,

Alton: Forsyth; Hemmens, Ott, Gill; Arundel, Collins; Happel, Parratt, Gay (c); Greenhalgh, Oliphant; Sorby, Carter, Ford. Rep. Fleming, Osborne, .O'Connor.

Tries: Richards (11), Ott (35), Ford (80); Conversions: Ott (2) Penalty: Ott (50).

Winchester:

Not known.