This much awaited fixture, at least for Alton, gave them the opportunity to avenge their defeat by Heathens by just 6 points in last April’s Hampshire RFU Plate Final, Alton were then in a lower division.
However, the match did not get off to a very auspicious start, the Silverbacks failed to gather Heathens’ kick-off at all, giving their visitors an opportunity for an unconverted try; 0-5.
Having been rudely awakened the Silverbacks encamped in Fareham’s half, some good passing moves pressurised the visitor’s defence into giving away a penalty, which Joe Gwyther gladly converted; 3-5.
They added to this score only a couple of minutes later when a pass, which missed 2 players, ended in the safe hands of centre David Shepherd who gladly accepted the try on offer; 8-5.
This only served to goad Heathens back into action and 7 minutes later they set-up a drive following a line-out 10 metres out and forced their way over for a converted try; 8-12.
The Silverbacks replied with a drive of their own, prop Nick Stoffel stretching to his full height to give Gwyther a relatively simple conversion; 15-12.
For the next 10 minutes Alton kept the pressure up with a number of clean handling moves and although Ollie Burden believed he had scored, he was deemed to have knocked-on in the act of doing so. Winger Ryan Bale made amends when he finished off a backs’ move soon after, Gwyther converting; 22-12.
With half-time nigh, Alton again conceded from a line-out; 22-17.
Within 2 minutes off the restart Fareham dropped the ball during a passing move, the Silverbacks hacked it on, and Karter Whitlock ran in from the left to touch down beneath the posts, Gwyther added the 2 further points; 29-17.
Midway into the second half it was newcomer Andy Tart’s turn when he scored his first try for Alton in his first game for the club; 34-17.
Ollie Burden made a solo break a few minutes later and this time was awarded a well-deserved try; 39-17.
5 minutes later Chris Gregory athletically crashed his way through the visitors’ defence releasing Jez Powell who scampered in for his second try in 2 matches; this was converted; 46-17.
He was followed a minute or so later when Edward Passfield finished of a quick handling move from a line-out; 51-17. He repeated his effort some 10 minutes later, Gwyther bringing the game to end with his conversion 58-17.
The Silverbacks have learnt from the last week’s game when they showed too much respect to their opposition; and although Fareham Heathens never stopped trying, Alton should take pride in the way they approached this match especially in the 2nd half. Second row Ben Burrage was deservedly named Man of the Match.
This win, with its try scoring bonus, has lifted the Silverbacks total points to 24, equal with that of league leaders Petersfield, who failed to earn a try bonus for the first time this season. Petersfield head the league because their points difference is just 27 better than that of Alton.
This sets up a fascinating top of the table clash next Saturday, 12th October, when the 2 sides meet at Penns Place, Petersfield. Kick-off is at 3 p.m.