This was Alton Silverbacks finest performance of the season so far as they scored 9 tries in an impressive 63-19 victory against Old Emanuel
Whilst Cameron Hamer may have stolen much of the limelight by scoring 4 tries, this was a real team effort with the forward pack establishing a platform that enabled Alton to cut loose with some fine tries. However, the margin of victory was also down to the defensive difference between the two sides as Alton tackled magnificently throughout the match and Emanuel’s defensive line was breached time and again.
Alton’s set piece play was imperious throughout as the front five, bolstered by the return of Nick Stoffel, dominated the scrum and Emanuel had no match for Ben Burrage and Luke Harriss in the lineout. Luke Parratt’s throwing was excellent with their own ball and in contrast Emanuel’s throw was constantly put under pressure
Alton started quickly, after 3 minutes, Joe Gwyther kicked wide right to Alex Toft who collected and ran over from close to halfway to establish an early lead.
Emanuel spent the next 10 minutes deep in Alton territory who were repeatedly penalised and then warned for not releasing in the tackle. Eventually the referee lost his patience and Jeremy Powell was sinbinned. Emanuel capitalised as they possessed a man advantage in the scrum and scored off one of these from short range.
Alton responded immediately with Gwyther linking well with Hamer who ran an intelligent line to restore Alton’s lead after 16 minutes. With Hamer, Toft and Tom Burgess also now back in the squad, Alton possess blistering pace in the backs and Emanuel had few answers when the ball went wide.
Emanuel knocked forward in midfield and Stoffel collected and surged forward. Tom Burgess came in off his wing to join the forwards, linked with Caleb Wolfreys who was stopped shy of the line, but Stoffel was there to finish off the play that he had started.
Even when Emanuel pressed, George Pantrey’s box kicking was accurate and provided a release of pressure on more than one occasion. After 38 minutes, the silky passing skills combination of Gwyther and Hamer pierced the visitors defence once more and Alton’s bonus point try had been secured before half time. Inevitably Gwyther converted all the tries; in fact, he never missed a kick all afternoon. 28-7 at half time.
Alton’s confidence was soaring now and when Emanuel’s full back went missing, Gwyther identified the space and collected his own adroit kick to score under the posts after 50 minutes. Moments later, Matt Pengilly’s energetic performance in both defence and attack was rewarded with a simple try off the back of a 5-metre scrum.
Gwyther’ s cross field kick again was judged to perfection by Burgess on the left wing, and Hamer was sent clear once more by a cute offload pass to score his hattrick try. Not to be outdone, the forwards also demonstrated their own offloading aptitude and this time Jeremy Powell scythed through the Emanuel defence and then with 3 minutes remaining. Toft intercepted a desperate pass as Emanuel gambled deep within their own territory and Hamer was on hand again to jink his way under the posts with Alton’s final try.
Emanuel were able to add two further tries in the final 15 minutes to bring some respectability to the result, and they continually challenged the Alton line right until the end despite the score line
The win consolidates Alton’s position in the table and that was an important confidence builder with away trips now planned against title challengers Weybridge and then Petersfield before the Christmas break.