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Sat 16 Nov 2019 · Hampshire Premier
Alton Silverbacks (Men)Sandown & S.
Tries: L Parratt, E Pasfield, C Hamer (2), B Sumner (2)Conversions: C Hamer (4)Yellow Carded: E Pasfield
38
12
Sliverbacks continue their winning ways
Steve Jenkins17 Nov 2019 - 19:28
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10 wins from 10 games
Alton Silverbacks maintained their unbeaten and impressive start to the season with yet another fine performance against Sandown and Shanklin as they recorded their 10th straight win 38-12 at Anstey Park.
Only 10 days ago, the Islanders were awarded Grassroots Team of the Month for Level 9 - 12 by the RFU, after a superb start to the season of their own with 7 wins from 7 games. However, these types of award can sometimes be viewed as a curse and after losing at home to Petersfield last week, they now faced the significant challenge of visiting a rampant Alton side
With Alton missing a few backs, and no backs even named as substitutes, Alton stepped into this game perhaps knowing they would need to rely on their formidable pack and so the game transpired. Eventually the holes opened in the visitor’s defence, and marshalled well by fly half Cameron Hamer the Alton backs duly took advantage, but the battle was largely won up front in an uncompromising encounter.
Alton were forced into an early change as Matt Chapman was forced off after a blow to the face, but with John Happel joining the fray, the Alton scrum quickly exerted pressure on the Sandown line and Luke Parratt took his opportunity well from 5 yards, bursting through three defenders after 10 minutes.
Leading try scorer Ed Pasfield, gathered the Hurricanes kick off and stormed to half way, Alton quickly went wide but Oliver Burden was unable to find space down the left wing and was tackled unceremoniously into touch. Tempers became frayed on both teams.
Sandown were now under pressure, conceding several offside penalties as they sought to stop the Alton advance. Jeremy Powell broke through and found Michael Robson, who was stopped just short of the line, as Alton continued to dominate territory playing down the Anstey slope.
Sandown had an opportunity to exert some pressure of their own, but after missing a kick to the corner and a fearsome clear out by Nick Stoffel in midfield, they soon found themselves back in their own half. The Alton defensive line speed was forcing Sandown errors as the visitors struggled with their kicking to relieve pressure from deep all afternoon. Tom Smethurst rose imperiously at the back of one line out, Stoffel was brought down just short, the ball was quickly recycled and quick Alton put in Ed Pasfield for a try against a flagging defence after 27 minutes
5 minutes later, again Alton charged down another clearance, the line out and scrum went Alton’s way and with Robson initially feigning left, he turned and found Hamer who carved through the defence to score under the posts. 17-0.
With the game seemingly going one way, the Islanders rallied just before half time. Their rolling maul was proving to be an effective strategy, and Alton were penalised not for the first or last time for bringing the maul down. Playing the penalty advantage, Sandown spun the ball wide and reduced the deficit after a well taken try wide left.
At 39 minutes, Alton may have thought at this time of getting to half time and regrouping, but momentum was clearly with Sandown and the referee was to allow a large time for stoppages. Wave after wave of attack from the Hurricanes, which were eventually relieved by a surging Alton scrum who managed to clear to midfield.
After an off the ball incident, Pasfield took great exception to the decision, the referee took great exception to Pasfield’s reaction and Alton would play the first 10 minutes of the 2nd half with 14 men. Half time 17-5 but Sandown were back in the game.
With a man advantage, Sandown started the second half on the front foot, but again lack of discipline at the breakdown cost them and Alton gained some much needed territory. With Ben Burrage winning line outs, Sandown were unable to gain any ground and they then started to attract the referee’s displeasure and were marched back into their 22 for talking back after another conceded penalty. Alton substitute Chris Gregory nearly crashed over after 50 minutes, Robson saw an opportunity but darted left when backs were lined on the right, and the visitors hacked the ball to halfway.
Pasfield re-joined the game and Alton had survived the period with a man down fairly comfortably. Sandown’s indiscretions quickly came to the attention of the referee again– a potential stamping incident did not attract further punishment but was quickly followed by yet another offside and finally a Sandown back was yellow carded for his language, despite his protestations that it was aimed at his own team. .
However the Sandown substitutes had now added extra weight to their pack and again Alton were penalised for dragging the maul down after it had rumbled forward toward the host’s line. This time, there was no stopping Sandown and they converted a spirited try with 15 minutes left. 17-12.The tide had seemingly turned.
Alton immediately rallied, as they needed to. Whilst Sandown controlled the mauls, Alton controlled the scrum and after winning one against the head, Hamer took advantage of the open space, backed himself as the Sandown defence parted and provided a perfectly weighted pass for the grateful Brendan Sumner to restore the 12 point lead with the bonus point try.
With the usual fly half choices of Joe Gwyther and Cameron Wicks missing, Hamer played a calm and considered game all afternoon and his kicking out of hand made it difficult for Sandown to gain any territory. Again Hamer punished Sandown toward their own line with an accurate kick in to the corner, and as they struggled to hold the advance, Sandown conceded 4 penalties in quick succession; one of which was punished with another yellow card after a deliberate knock on.
The Hamer – Sumner partnership combined well again in midfield for Sumner to score again under the posts with 6 minutes left and finally the Sandown spirit was broken. The Alton scrum marched them back with little resistance, and as the ball came along the line, Hamer jinked left, right and left again to score a well-deserved try of his own in the final minute. Final Score 38-12
As Sandown lamented their loss under the posts, they had failed to put pressure on Hamer all afternoon.
This Alton team goes marching on, now 6 points ahead of Petersfield who won again 37-20 v Ellingham and Ringwood, who are Alton Silverbacks; next opponents. The strength in depth of the squad continues to be decisive in these tight games, but Alton will not be looking for awards at this time of the season.
Next Saturday’s game at Ellingham and Ringwood will be a joint fixture, a game in the Hampshire Premiership, and also for the Hampshire Plate, kick-off is at 2 p.m.
Only 10 days ago, the Islanders were awarded Grassroots Team of the Month for Level 9 - 12 by the RFU, after a superb start to the season of their own with 7 wins from 7 games. However, these types of award can sometimes be viewed as a curse and after losing at home to Petersfield last week, they now faced the significant challenge of visiting a rampant Alton side
With Alton missing a few backs, and no backs even named as substitutes, Alton stepped into this game perhaps knowing they would need to rely on their formidable pack and so the game transpired. Eventually the holes opened in the visitor’s defence, and marshalled well by fly half Cameron Hamer the Alton backs duly took advantage, but the battle was largely won up front in an uncompromising encounter.
Alton were forced into an early change as Matt Chapman was forced off after a blow to the face, but with John Happel joining the fray, the Alton scrum quickly exerted pressure on the Sandown line and Luke Parratt took his opportunity well from 5 yards, bursting through three defenders after 10 minutes.
Leading try scorer Ed Pasfield, gathered the Hurricanes kick off and stormed to half way, Alton quickly went wide but Oliver Burden was unable to find space down the left wing and was tackled unceremoniously into touch. Tempers became frayed on both teams.
Sandown were now under pressure, conceding several offside penalties as they sought to stop the Alton advance. Jeremy Powell broke through and found Michael Robson, who was stopped just short of the line, as Alton continued to dominate territory playing down the Anstey slope.
Sandown had an opportunity to exert some pressure of their own, but after missing a kick to the corner and a fearsome clear out by Nick Stoffel in midfield, they soon found themselves back in their own half. The Alton defensive line speed was forcing Sandown errors as the visitors struggled with their kicking to relieve pressure from deep all afternoon. Tom Smethurst rose imperiously at the back of one line out, Stoffel was brought down just short, the ball was quickly recycled and quick Alton put in Ed Pasfield for a try against a flagging defence after 27 minutes
5 minutes later, again Alton charged down another clearance, the line out and scrum went Alton’s way and with Robson initially feigning left, he turned and found Hamer who carved through the defence to score under the posts. 17-0.
With the game seemingly going one way, the Islanders rallied just before half time. Their rolling maul was proving to be an effective strategy, and Alton were penalised not for the first or last time for bringing the maul down. Playing the penalty advantage, Sandown spun the ball wide and reduced the deficit after a well taken try wide left.
At 39 minutes, Alton may have thought at this time of getting to half time and regrouping, but momentum was clearly with Sandown and the referee was to allow a large time for stoppages. Wave after wave of attack from the Hurricanes, which were eventually relieved by a surging Alton scrum who managed to clear to midfield.
After an off the ball incident, Pasfield took great exception to the decision, the referee took great exception to Pasfield’s reaction and Alton would play the first 10 minutes of the 2nd half with 14 men. Half time 17-5 but Sandown were back in the game.
With a man advantage, Sandown started the second half on the front foot, but again lack of discipline at the breakdown cost them and Alton gained some much needed territory. With Ben Burrage winning line outs, Sandown were unable to gain any ground and they then started to attract the referee’s displeasure and were marched back into their 22 for talking back after another conceded penalty. Alton substitute Chris Gregory nearly crashed over after 50 minutes, Robson saw an opportunity but darted left when backs were lined on the right, and the visitors hacked the ball to halfway.
Pasfield re-joined the game and Alton had survived the period with a man down fairly comfortably. Sandown’s indiscretions quickly came to the attention of the referee again– a potential stamping incident did not attract further punishment but was quickly followed by yet another offside and finally a Sandown back was yellow carded for his language, despite his protestations that it was aimed at his own team. .
However the Sandown substitutes had now added extra weight to their pack and again Alton were penalised for dragging the maul down after it had rumbled forward toward the host’s line. This time, there was no stopping Sandown and they converted a spirited try with 15 minutes left. 17-12.The tide had seemingly turned.
Alton immediately rallied, as they needed to. Whilst Sandown controlled the mauls, Alton controlled the scrum and after winning one against the head, Hamer took advantage of the open space, backed himself as the Sandown defence parted and provided a perfectly weighted pass for the grateful Brendan Sumner to restore the 12 point lead with the bonus point try.
With the usual fly half choices of Joe Gwyther and Cameron Wicks missing, Hamer played a calm and considered game all afternoon and his kicking out of hand made it difficult for Sandown to gain any territory. Again Hamer punished Sandown toward their own line with an accurate kick in to the corner, and as they struggled to hold the advance, Sandown conceded 4 penalties in quick succession; one of which was punished with another yellow card after a deliberate knock on.
The Hamer – Sumner partnership combined well again in midfield for Sumner to score again under the posts with 6 minutes left and finally the Sandown spirit was broken. The Alton scrum marched them back with little resistance, and as the ball came along the line, Hamer jinked left, right and left again to score a well-deserved try of his own in the final minute. Final Score 38-12
As Sandown lamented their loss under the posts, they had failed to put pressure on Hamer all afternoon.
This Alton team goes marching on, now 6 points ahead of Petersfield who won again 37-20 v Ellingham and Ringwood, who are Alton Silverbacks; next opponents. The strength in depth of the squad continues to be decisive in these tight games, but Alton will not be looking for awards at this time of the season.
Next Saturday’s game at Ellingham and Ringwood will be a joint fixture, a game in the Hampshire Premiership, and also for the Hampshire Plate, kick-off is at 2 p.m.
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