Over recent years these two clubs have enjoyed a local rivalry, which they were able to rekindle following Alton’s promotion last season, and the match was more competitive than the final result suggests.
Playing under a clear blue sky and in brilliant sunshine Alton found themselves on the defensive for the fist 5 minutes. When they did find themselves in the home teams half they immediately set up a flowing move from left to right freeing winger Ed Lowman to go over in the corner, and excellent conversion by Cameron Hamer to the score to 0-7.
The next 25 minutes or so was closely contested with neither side showing any dominance. Alresford eventually broke the impasse when Alton were penalised, the home team kicked to touch and from the lineout set up a maul from which they drove over to touch down for an unconverted try, 5-7.
Soon after Alton were awarded a penalty, but the attempt missed. Just before half-time an Alresford player was yellow carded and Alton set up a lineout on the 5-metre line, a clean catch allowed a good maul to be formed and Ryan Capes forced his way over for the try, Hamer converted taking the score to 5-14 at the break.
1 minute into the second period Alton won a scrum, #9 Mark Crowther quickly fed replacement stand-off Joe Gwyther who set free Hamer, now at inside centre, he sold the defence 3 outrageous dummies which gave him the room to cross for the try which was unconverted, 5-19.
The game became a bit stop/start not helped by the heat requiring regular water breaks and nothing much happened until about 60 minutes when the Silverbacks were awarded a scrum about 10 metres from the line. A clean heel by Luke Parratt and excellent control gave the pack the opportunity to drive for the line. The home scrum fragmented, and the referee had no hesitation in running under the posts to award a penalty try, 5-26.
Alton’s final score came through centre Brendan Summer who finished of some good approach by his teammates, unfortunately it was unconverted, 5-31.
However, an excellent result for the Silverbacks which takes them to 3rd in the table, a performance which built on last week’s efforts, with the team beginning to show coherence, and a level of fitness higher than that of the 2 sides they have played so far.
Next Saturday Alton Silverbacks welcome Farnborough who were promoted from Hampshire 1 alongside Alton. Kick-off is at 3 p.m. in Anstey Park.