Second tiltle in 3 years for Alton U16s

Alton Under 16s have sealed an emphatic Hampshire Cup Final victory over Blandford RFC. This was Alton's third successive Cup final in as many years against Hampshire’s top performing clubs, and their second title in three years.

The County Cup is competed for by the top four teams in Division 1 of the ‘Phillip Chapman-Sheath’ County League. Alton made the final courtesy of an intense away 5-10 Semi-Final win over their age-old rivals at Petersfield RFC, who themselves were the Cup winners over Alton in 2023 with a last gasp penalty to win by a point (23-22), and also unbeaten in all competition since their 2022 Cup Semi-Final loss to Alton.
With Petersfield consigned to the bronze Medal match Alton turned their attention to Blandford, and a Cup Final on the 4G pitch at Havant RFC.

Alton opened their season on the first day with a narrow loss to Blandford, who were the worthy victor on the day albeit helped by a fortuitous ‘bounce of the ball’, however it was a comforting narrative to be competing for honours against them at the end of the competitive season. However, both teams were there on merit. It could not have been anything other than a fast athletic and combative Cup Final! Man for man Blandford were the larger team with an electric back division capable of unlocking any defence given space.

We were treated to perfect conditions on a mild dry March afternoon. Alton’s game plan was to pressurise Blandford possession to prevent their back line with any viable opportunities. Within the first couple of minutes this paid dividend with Alton’s opening try!
Blandford went wide after a couple phases, Alton line speed forced the handling error at outside centre. Wheeler quickly got a boot to it fly-hacking to just outside the Blandford’s 22, before collecting his own kick and feeding Blest in for the try with barely 2 minutes on the clock. This was a perfect start for Alton banishing the 10 points in 10 minutesd conceded in their previous 2023 final.

Wheeler scored with his own try 10 minutes later. A jinking line off Will Pack (10) seemed to open up a hole in front of Wheeler, despite several defenders hanging off him he successfully fought for the line, Pack scored the conversion 12-0 after 15 minutes.
Territory at this stage was firmly in Blandford’s third. Alton’s pod runners around the ruck consistently making ground over the gain line. It is a fair reflection to suggest that Alton transition from attack to defence outperformed Blandford’s transition from D to attack. Time spent in Alton territory was limited at this stage. So, when Zeph Perring at scrum half followed in up off a Will Osman break to score in the 21st minute it was pretty much with the run of play. Sublime work from Alton. Pack kicked the conversion, 19:0 after 22.

The subsequent kick off however gave Blandford the opportunity to get back into Alton territory, and an irritating ability to cough up unnecessary penalties meant that they were able to push Alton back for an attacking lineout on Alton’s 5m line. A good catch a drive put them over for a well earned try. 19-5 after 25 mins.

With points on the board Blandford played with renewed enthusiasm. The calls and errors that seemed to go Alton’s way 5 mins earlier now went Blandford’s way, including a Yellow Card awarded to Ben Avery for ‘Penalty Count’ (and not unreasonably). Blandford now played with renewed confidence; they could see a way back into the game. In the 31st minute the speed and power of their backs confirmed how they made the final in the first place. Alton, a man down, left enough space on the outside for their speedster outside centre to gallop round several Alton players to score under the posts. With the conversion 19-12 at half time… Game On!!

With only a converted try score difference there was absolutely no doubt that the next score was essential. Alton might have been dominant, but Blandford had shown they could score out of nothing! Alton needed to double down on their defence and resort to their simple but effective game plan. Do what they did in the first 20!

With 4 minutes of the second half played Alton had pushed up to the 5m line within a couple of pick and go phases Will Pack took advantage mislaligned defense and drove over to score, conversion missed. 24-12.

Whilst plenty of fight was left in Blandford there it was clear however that to concede so early in second half wrestled momentum back to Alton. was a bitter blow. After a further 10 minutes of punishing go-forward from Alton, Ben Avery crashed over for a hugely deserved try, and at 29-12 with 15 minutes to play, perhaps the game. Not that either team were prepared think it!

Blandford kept fighting, and their heads up, into the final minutes and were rewarded with a converted try in 68th minute, before cruelly conceding a 70th minute try to Jack Beswick (Alton Skipper on the day). Game Over! Alton wins 34 – 12.

It was an absolutely breathtaking performance from an Age Grade regional grassroots club rugby side.

Blandford coaches and parents, the referee and touch judges as well as neutral supporters were all full of genuine praise for the quality of the Alton performance across the park, and it was throroughly deserved!

Alton U16 coaches and parents of course agree… but we are biased! Well Done, Lads!!!

Footnote, James Pack U16s Lead Coach:
This has been an incredible squad achievement built over the course of a season! 7 of the squad on Sunday were playing (and winning) in the B's play off match versus Trojans this time last year. If we could have selected 30 we would have. I am immensely proud of what this group of boys have achieved, so many have rasied and improved their game over the last season and previous seasons. We finished the league with strong availability especially among our strongest players. But it needed the early season commitment of the rest of squad, and these lads, to get us there.
At other clubs I genuinely believe they might have left the game, but for these lads (and they probably know who they are themselves) it was my proudest moment as a coach to see them collect their medals. I am just sorry for those who missed out. But there is always Colts Rugby!