ALTON 2nd XI gave a rousing welcome back to the Salmon brothers, following their RFU Senior Vase triumph at Twickenham with Farnham RFC, and then recorded their first win of the season in the Southern Premier League Division Three.

Both were amongst the wickets, but it was Michael who led from the front at Hursley Park. The elder Salmon dismissed both openers with only 14 on the board and finished with 3-14 from 10 overs of excellent swing bowling.

He and the economical Steve Ball reduced Hursley to 35-4 and then, with one run added, Toby Salmon produced a pearler in his first over to remove Matt Branford.

At 49-6, after a Salmon Jnr run-out, an early tea was looking likely, but Tom Flynn and Luke Deacon batted maturely in a stand of 89 to put Hursley back in the game.

Although Lee Partner broke the partnership, Flynn went on to make a powerful 77 not out and Hursley Park were dismissed in the final over for 175.

With the pitch improving, Alton openers Andy Postles and Howard Gadsby put on 47 with some sensible batting and application. But then Tom Burns removed Gatsby and bowled Ryan Hale and David Evans in quick succession to leave the visitors on 67-3.

A fine partnership of 91 between Postles and Hugo Hammond thwarted Hursley, though. Hammond hit an aggressive 47 before playing one shot too many and, three runs later, Postles went for a fine 75.

At 161-5, Salmon Snr eased any worries with a cover-driven six, and it was left to brother Toby and Dan Trim to complete Alton’s first victory since returning to the SPL.