Alton Colts 18 - Basingstoke Colts 15

What a Game. Alton 18- Basingstoke 15. From a spectator's perspective, this was a great game of high quality rugby to watch, which travelled end to end and could have gone either way.
Alton trailed at half time playing up the Anstey hill, having been if I'm honest out played at the breakdown as a result of some outstanding play by the Basingstoke pack.
The change in the Alton squad in the second half was a pleasure to witness. The leaders started to step up and provide some real constructive self analysis of what would make the difference. More importantly the squad took the feedback on board and delivered.
Defensively the Alton boys took no more steps backwards and the Alton line was impregnable to every aggressive run from a Basingstoke back row that played outstandingly all day.
Two individual tries by Ollie B and Ollie F put Basingstoke on the back foot, resulting in them loosing their discipline, whereas Alton kept their cool through great team communication and direction.
As a coaching team who are trying to develop and build a squad who are self analytical and have the ability to adjust based on what they see and feel, rather than through a directive policy, the green shoots of self development are clearly there.
The win today is down to a squad with passion and drive to be the best they can be. The journey to greatness is one filled with challenges, and as coaches we will continue to present these , whilst as players we will help you take responsibility and ownership for your own rugby destinies.
Players of note for me. Again Danny L, what a collision in the first half, challenged only by Matt P's hit on the Basingstoke 8 5 meters from our live. Ollie B and Ollie F starting to stand out as leaders, with a number of great performances from the new entrants of Henry Woodfine, Arthur, James and Ollie Fellows.
Well done. A pleasure to watch.