Alton 10 Andover 31.

A popular try for giant prop Carl Sievewright, his first ever in any level of rugby, sealed a solid if unspectacular win for Andover against old rivals Alton last Saturday.

How the fortunes of sport can change as former power lifter Sievewright, only just returned from the misery of 16 months out with a serious knee injury, could not contain his joy at crossing the whitewash.

The game was played at Lord Wandsworth College due to flooding at Alton’s ground and the small pitch played into the hosts’ hands as Andover found it hard to use their pace wide out.

A howling gale did nothing to assist either as Oakwood sponsored Andover were forced into plan B and simply ground Alton down with a display of pure forward power.

Although the home side battled hard throughout to make sure there was no repeat of the humiliation they suffered at the 'All Blacks' hands earlier this season, it was in the end damage limitation as Andover found another gear in the second half to run out comfortable winners.

With wind in their favour Andover would have expected more from a scrappy first half in which too often they took wrong options and missed gilt edged chances.

Without injured hooker Tom Waite Andover resorted to sheer power in the front row moving prop Nic Reed to the middle and bringing in powerhouse Sievewright to the tight head side.

With loose head Alex Hibdidge having a field day it worked well as Andover dominated every scrum and with an almost endless supply of ball at the lineout through Marc Wilding, should have been out of sight.

They took the lead after just ten minutes with a powerful try from Paul Tuinasakea after good work from Andy Franklin.

It took another 25 minutes to add to this however when Wilding finally finished off a short scrum.

Rich Retallick converted both to give Andover a less than secure half- time lead.

Full report in Friday's Advertiser