Remember, Remember the 5th of November

Alton Silverbacks will certainly “remember, remember the 5th of November” as they recorded the first win of the season by 27-22 at Andover.
Again, Alton struggling with injuries were only able to field a 16-man squad and despite dominating the game for long periods, it appeared that this lack of cover might prove their undoing once more, but they mounted an incredible late comeback and fully deserved the victory.
This was undoubtedly Alton’s best performance of the season as they controlled territory and possession for long periods and played a simple uncomplicated brand of rugby straight from the start. Andover were only able to cling on throughout the game through their dominance of the scrum set piece and if it were not for that, the result would surely have been far more emphatic
If Andover had any thoughts that this would be a straightforward result, those thoughts were blown up in smoke in the first 15 minutes as Alton started the game at a searing pace.
Tyler Smith set the tone with some scorching runs right from the outset, and backs and forwards combined well to create several early opportunities. Eventually Smith found a gap and blazed an unstoppable trail to open the scoring after just 7 minutes.
In the fixture last season, Andover were too strong in the line out, but here again Alton dominated through the aerial ability of Ben Burrage and after a penalty for taking a man out in the air, Joe Gwyther converted for Alton to lead 10-0.
Shortly afterwards, again another lineout infringement was conceded by Andover and this time the front row was sinbinned as the hosts looked increasingly frustrated
Immediately spaces opened, Gwyther combined with Josh Richardson who released Oli Fielder who was too hot to handle as he took several defenders over the line with him. 17-0
Andover were looking increasingly desperate for anything to spark their game into life, but they took solace from the fact that their scrum weapon was always their likely way back into the match, and from their first venture inside the Alton red-zone they powered over.
Hooker Karter Whittock went off for some treatment with a reoccurring rib injury as the fiery Andover pack elected to opt for scrums on every occasion, eventually creating an opening for their backs to score a well worked try shortly before half time. 17—12 and Andover were back in the game.
Alton were now able to benefit from a strong wind in the second half but coupled with a heavy drizzle, the ball was proving to be increasingly difficult to handle by both sides. Consequently, that meant more scrums.
However, Alton started the second half just like the first and camped down deep inside Andover territory for the first 15 minutes of the second half. Tom Smethurst twice came close, once losing the ball just over the line and the ball was held up on another occasion. Smith and Whittock also were stopped within a few metres and Andover could not gain any territory. They had an opportunity to relieve some pressure from a line out on halfway, but they firstly knocked on and then had a further player sinbinned for a high tackle on Smith.
Gwyther performed a last-ditch interception that could have seen a breakaway but still Alton maintained high intensity and Lewis New came close on a couple of occasions down the right wing. Alton knew that another score was essential, particularly after losing the corresponding fixture last season with the last play of the game.
But the score would not come, and with an innocuous kick through, the Andover full back gathered and despite all the Alton pressure, it was Andover would who took the lead with a score under the posts. Was history about to repeat itself?
It was a major blow for Alton and the game seemed to be up as they then had a player sinbinned for a deliberate knock on as the home side went in search of the decisive score.
A further penalty for Andover stretched their lead to 5 points but when all seemed lost, Gareth Schreuder found a way to incredibly breathe fire into the embers one last time.
It was an incredible passage of play from the scrum half. Firstly, he jinked his way into midfield and as he approached halfway, Schreuder launched a superb 50:22 kick to within 5 metres of the Andover line. The line out was lost but Schreuder again bravely jackalled over the ball to secure a penalty and then with a quick tap penalty, he dived over the line to level the scores at 22-22. Gwyther kicked the conversion and Alton had taken the lead.
Andover’s misery was compounded as their ill discipline resulted in a penalty for Alton who once again put pressure on the hosts line with a few minutes remaining and they maintained a stranglehold for the rest of the match.
After conceding a penalty, Andover’s backs gathered under their posts knowing they needed to run the full length of the pitch to avoid defeat. As Gwyther strode forward to take the kick, his concentration was broken by a disrespectful comment from the Andover touchline and the official decided that the kick should be retaken. Gwyther converted and Alton had won 27-22.
Apart from scrummaging, Alton may need to consider practicing simple arithmetic in training this week. As the final whistle was blown, it seemed strange that the Alton team were not wildly celebrating their first win of a hard-fought season. As they gathered in midfield, many of the team had thought the game had been drawn but with confirmation from the side-lines, realisation finally settled in that they had prevailed in a blaze of glory.
Next week, Alton are at home to Bournemouth II at Anstey Park.