Grasshoppers Development 17 - Farnham Academy 10

After an uncertain start to the season Farnham Academy (U17/U18) showed welcome signs of improvement in a non-league match away at Brentford-based Grasshoppers RFC.

The Farnham pack was dominant at the set piece with front row Joe Curran, Chris Hughes and Hector Hoyte-Bone scrummaging well and Academy debutant Benjamin Adams winning the battle at the front of the line out.  It was Farnham pressure at a five meter scrum that allowed skipper Hector Hoyte-Bone to take advantage of the scramble behind Grasshopper's back row and touch down for the opening score.

Grasshoppers came back hard led by their talented fly half who converted both a penalty and a try from out wide.  The Grasshopper try was scored on one of the few occasions when their forwards won quick ball and they spun it wide creating the inevitable overlap; inevitable because Farnham turned up with only thirteen players!

At the previous week’s game Farnham Academy coach Geoff Bond was able to give 26 players a run out in a non-league match against Trojans.  “It’s disappointing when half the squad melt away during the week but there can be no doubting the commitment of the thirteen from Farnham who did take the field,” he said.

10-5 down at the halfway mark, these thirteen took the game to Grasshoppers. The cultured boot of Farnham fly half Tom O’Connell, supported by quick chasing from Rob West posed a constant threat while the defensive work by all was outstanding.  On one memorable occasion the Grasshopper No10 kicked into the space left vacant by the absent full back but Farnham No8 Ed Weeks won the foot race, dived on the ball, rolled, got straight to his feet, beat a couple of chasers, made yards and then off loaded to the pack who were then back in support.

The Farnham pressure eventually told when Hector Hoyte Bone took a quick tap penalty to even the scores at 10 all.

That score would have been a fair reflection of the game, but a lapse in concentration – mayhap caused by 13 players doing the work of 15 – allowed Grasshoppers to take their own quick tap penalty and go in under the post allowing a simple conversion.

“It was a good game played in the right spirit and the "Gs" are excellent hosts. We look forward to entertaining Grasshoppers later in the season with a full side,” said Bond.  “But I would be happy if I just had these thirteen players.  Their commitment, skill and work rate are a credit to the club.”