ALTON picked up their first win of the season – and maximum points – as they beat Havant.

Teenagers Tom South and Freddie Egleston made their debuts, bringing the average age of the side below 24.

Captain Dan Harris and Ryan Covey gave Alton a solid start, moving the score along to 77 before Harris was caught by Gadd from the bowling of Darren Stares for 35 made from 52 balls.

Covey soon followed after a well-made 44 from 58 balls, leaving the score at 84.

Hampshire Academy prospect South (36) and Alex Hammond (12) put on a stand of 49 when captain Harris decided to send in Toby Salmon to partner youngster Jude Wright, and together they took the Alton score along to 196 for six from the allotted 40 overs.

The total gave Alton something to defend but there was a feeling they were potentially 20 to 30 runs short, especially with Havant’s formidable mid-order.

But Ryan Covey (1-16) and leg spinner Jack Myers (1-18) put a stranglehold on the run rate, as Havant slipped to 76 for five – and for the first time there was a feeling Alton had wrestled the initiative.

Harris made a double change and entrusted the next overs to the teenage pairing of Wright (15) and Bochereau (19). It looked a bold move when Morgan took a liking to Bochereau’s first over, but in the very next over Wright had him trapped LBW for 25 made at a run a ball and the score was 111 for six.

Wright, bowling with good pace and bounce, then had Freddie Gadd caught by Salmon for three with the score on 127 and Bochereau (1-39), having recovered from his first over, settled into a good rhythm and had Bulled caught by Egleston for 27 with the score at 137.

Wright (3-26) then had Stares caught by Harris for one with the score at 149 before some late order hitting from Richard Jerry (36 not out) took the score to 175, at which point returning opener Salmon (1-30) removed Alfie Taw for four and Havant were all out.

This Saturday Alton are at home to Portsmouth before starting the defence of their T20 Trophy with a home game against Portsmouth & Southsea on Sunday (2.30pm).

Alton were brought crashing down to earth on Saturday. After convincing wins for both the seconds and thirds in their previous outing, Hursley Park inflicted a double dose of the defeat to the Brewers.

The second XI came up against Hursley Park’s first team and after winning the toss and making a steady start, they collapsed from 72 for two to 103 all out.

Despite the up and down nature of the pitch, the total never looked like being enough. To add to their woes, Alton failed to take their chances with two catches going down off the bowling of Michael Salmon. Julian Ballinger (2-11) made the breakthrough and he and Tom Paul added further wickets but Hursley made it to their target in the 28th over for the loss of just three wickets.

Alton’s third XI fared slightly better with the bat as they posted 164 at home to Hursley Park seconds. Skipper Mason led the way with 56 with young Sam Bridger 26 and Amelia Marshall 27 providing valuable support.

Hursley won by seven wickets with 12 overs to spare.

In the I’Anson Cup, for the third year in succession Alton IV managed to win a very close game against Badshot Lea second XI.

Badshot batted first, setting a score of 170 for nine, Gregory top scoring with 48, and Gonella taking four wickets for Alton.

Wills, Bridger and Green set the base for Alton before unleashing Sebi Bramah to see the game home with an unbroken half century. In the end Alton had three overs to spare in their first victory of the season.

Alton successfully saw off the challenge of newly-promoted Ropley in Division One of the Hampshire Women’s League.

Ropley opted to bat, their line-up strengthened by Providence Cowdrill from the Hampshire Ladies squad.

Cowdrill (20) and former Alton junior Rachel King compiled a 70-run partnership before Gemma Porter removed King (53).

Ropley collapsed – as Catherine Bayliss took three catches – before the tail wagged to set a target of 146. Debutant Issy Wallace picked up her maiden wicket with her first ball.

The game could have turned when Emma Tatnell removed Bilsland and Nic Gadsby in consecutive balls, but Abi Green survived the hat-trick ball before scoring 38 off 22 balls in an unbroken partnership of 55 with Porter (53) to see Alton safely home.