Having not played for over a month, due to Covid related issues, Alton Silverbacks came into this match against Old Georgians with some notable absences and others playing in unfamiliar positions
Unlike the free-flowing rugby played in the reverse fixture, this was an attritional affair with every metre of ground fiercely defended by both teams. This was compounded by numerous stoppages at the breakdown which resulted in a game where both teams failed to find any rhythm.
Defence was the order of the day, with both teams spending long periods in the oppositions ‘red-zone’ but rarely finding clear opportunities to break the line.
Georgians started the brighter of the teams, stealing an early Alton lineout and they were soon camped down inside Alton territory. Lewis New, starting at fly-half, seemed to set the tone for the game with a big hit early on. However, Alton could not clear their lines, and as they moved the home defence from side to side, Georgians eventually created an overload and touched down in the right corner to lead after just 5 minutes.
Ben Burrage, normally a forward, showed his versatility by playing as a winger created an opening out wide and kicked through deep into Georgians territory and the visitors conceded a resulting penalty but New missed an opportunity to reduce the deficit.
The Georgians pack controlled the scrum and they also showed some ingenuity in the lineout and as a consequence Alton were not able to maintain any sustained possession. Even playing up the Anstey slope, Georgians controlled the game and spent the last 15 minutes of the half deep inside Alton territory.
A New kick was charged down but the ball rebounded to safety, but Georgians could not find an opening and it was great credit to the home defensive effort that they somehow managed to get to half time only trailing by 5-0.
With Alton having the kick-off in the second half, it was now their turn to lay siege on the visitor’s line. Ed Thomas, at full back and not for the first time, was solid under any high ball clearance and returned a couple with interest.
Georgians were warned for conceding a few penalties in short succession as the pressure mounted, but the set piece was their pressure release valve. They mounted a rare attack of their own midway through the second half, but Matt Pengilley gathered a deft Georgians kick that had the home defence scrambling and Alton were soon on the attack once more
It seemed at this point, that one moment of class or guile from either team could be the deciding factor. The Georgians imposing centre was replaced due to injury and the visitors looked less assured without his presence. Burrage jinked through the lines, but New was brought down. Caleb Wolfreys and Tom Smethurst were also stopped just short, but Alton were getting quick ball finally off the ruck. As George Pantrey found Luke Bottomley, it almost seemed that the front row forward could not believe the space that was available to him and he was unstoppable from 10 metres with only 8 minutes remaining. With a New conversion, Alton were now leading 7-5 and it was much deserved based on their second half performance
Immediately though, Alton transgressed from the kick off and then through ill discipline were marched back by 10 metres by the referee. It made the penalty a little easier, and the Georgians diminutive replacement scrum half struck the ball sweetly as Georgians regained the lead.
To the despair of the visitors coaching team, Georgians were penalised as they tried to run the ball out from their own 22 metre line with just minutes remaining and Alton had one final opportunity to seal the game. However New, who had kicked ball well out of hand all game, unfortunately pushed the kick to the left of the posts and it was Georgians who took the spoils.
Alton had the consolation of a losing bonus point and consolidated their position in 8th in London 3 South West. Next week they are at home to Old Cranleighans who sit 2 points behind Alton