Very good win for us against Alresford in our first home game of the season.

It was the visitors who struck first after a long period of possession from the kick off. Unable to get our hands on the ball we conceded the opening try within five minutes. Alresford converted to give them an early seven point lead.
However, two almost identical three quarter moves saw two superb tries in the corner for Tom Sheppard and two equally impressive conversions from Mark Hammond on the touch line.
Alresford clawed part of the lead back with a penalty but an pass intercept from Steve Brown gave him a touchdown under the posts for Mark Hammond to convert. A penalty for us this time re-established the gap but a great converted try from Alresford on the stroke of half time meant that we went into the break with a narrow 24 -17 lead and the game was still very much in the balance.
The second half carried on in the same vein as the first with hard and expansive rugby from both sides. However, we started to take control as the match approached the final quarter with three unanswered tries. The first from Tom Sheppard for his hat-trick and two from Charlie Boyns. Mark Hammond converted one of them and with five minutes remaining and the score at 41 -17 to the home side the match was all but over.
Alresford, as they did in the first half, had the last say with a well worked try and with the successful conversion being the last kick of the match, a super game of rugby came to an end. Ben Bealey was awarded man of the match after his first run out for the side this season, playing in the centres.
Some great season debuts in this match for the firsts, Tom Sheppard with a hat trick, Ben Bealey and Ben Barnes.
Next week the 1stXV are back on the road up the M3 to Farnborough who are always tough opposition.