A weather dominated loss for us away to Alton RFC by 38 – 7

On the most unpleasant of afternoons we made the long journey to league leaders Alton. With the whole match being played in horizontal driving wind and rain and a muddy and very slippery pitch Alton’s heavier pack dominated the entire game.
Our forwards were considerably lighter than our home side counter parts, an advantage that Alton used very well. With the very soft and wet ground we were unable to stop the ‘Silverbacks’ front eight pushing us backwards in both the scrums and mauls. Despite a valiant effort from our pack we simply could not hold our own against their heavier, well drilled scrum
This was, therefore, the home sides game plan which they executed extremely well to very good effect. Almost all their scores came from this route one approach.
Most of their points were scored in the first half and as changes started to take place in both packs, we began to regain a little control. It still was not enough however to change the result.
The only highlight for us came when, on a rare visit to their twenty-two, an infringement led to a penalty. Mat Norton saw the gap, took a quick tap catching Alton unaware, and scored our only try of the match. He converted his try but that was to be our only points of the match.
With the other results going as expected we stay in fifth position and Alton stay top in the Hampshire Premier Table.
No match next week due to the World Cup final so we entertain Millbrook at the Rec on the 9th November.