High flying Warlingham prove too strong for Alton

Alton Silverbacks welcomed Warlingham to Anstey Park on a bright breezy day and for long periods in the game held them close until Warlingham exerted their authority in the final 20 minutes
In the reverse fixture, Warlingham had soundly beat Alton by 29-0 and playing down the slope, the signs were ominous in the first few minutes as they moved the ball left and right and created an overload to score their first try after 2 minutes.
‘The Mighty Warl’ looked physically bigger in most positions, but Nick Stoffel and Luke Bottomley as props stood strong and the Alton scrum was effective throughout. But field position belonged to Warlingham in these early stages as Alton struggled to get out of their own half.
Tom Smethurst also was disrupting the Warlingham line out and the set plays allowed Alton to gradually gain some territory, and after Warlingham were penalised for an offside penalty, Cameron Hamer coolly slotted the penalty from 35 metres
Almost immediately from the kick-off, Warlingham scored again though as their fly-half weaved through the heart of the Alton defence and the try was converted to extend the lead to 12-3
Hamer’s trickery ably supported by the rambunctious Oli Fielder and the impressive Lew New joining the line from full back now started to test the oppositions flanks and Gwyther kicked to within 5 metres
Eventually a penalty resulted, but after Hamer pushed the ball just left, he almost immediately made up with a scything run down the left and again Warlingham were penalised; this time for a high tackle.
Alton were now camped inside the Warlingham red zone and stole a scrum against the head, Karter Whittock challenged the line once more and Warlingham were now repeatedly transgressing and testing the referee’s patience
Another kick to the corner by Gwyther, the lineout was collected superbly, backs joined the rolling maul and Luke Harriss touched down for a deserved try. The rolling maul has been Alton’s nemesis this season, and 12-8 down with a few minutes left in the half, the signs were looking promising.
Maybe buoyed by the confidence from that score though, Alton chose to run the ball from the kick-off and were penalised at the breakdown and Warlingham scored the final penalty of the first period.
Trailing 15-8 at the half but with a dominant scrum, Alton’s faithful could approach the second half with some optimism
But Warlingham started briskly, New relieving pressure after a deep kick into the in-goal area, but as Warlingham looked to recycle the ball left, Gwyther intercepted with aplomb and ran deep into the visitor’s half. However, they failed to capitalise on the opportunity but only after a Warlingham knock on.
A sustained period of pressure followed as Alton asked serious questions of the Warlingham defence but they were able to answer them all and eventually, Alton ran out of ideas - culminating with Gwyther’ s drop goal attempt that was blown well wide by the increasing crosswind.
A score at that time would have levelled and Alton were duly punished as Warlingham kicked deep and eventually strode over with a powerful running game to increase their lead to 22-8
That score was a knockout blow to dispirited Alton and Warlingham went on to run away with the game, scoring two further well worked tries in the final 10 minutes and eventually winning by 34-8. It was a result that was a touch flattering based on the first 60 minutes
Now sitting 9th in London 3 South West, Alton now have 3 important games with teams in the lower half of the league, including the rearranged fixture at Basingstoke that was postponed last weekend due to a waterlogged pitch.