17 February 2008

Farnham Academy 39 Reading Colts 21
 
On a sunny afternoon on a dry Wrecclesham pitch, Farnham Academy was challenged by a physically superior Reading U19 Colts side.  The Academy met the challenge with a controlled display of disciplined rugby that set up a flurry of tries scored in the final quarter.

The game started promisingly for Farnham who had most of the possession and territory in the early exchanges.  A quickly taken tap penalty allowed No8 Ryan Wilson to score under the posts for a converted try.  Ryan was making a guest appearance for the Academy prior to international duties with Scotland U20 v Italy next weekend. 

Farnham continued to apply pressure with a combination of sound rugby skills and accurate kicking from fly half Michael Salmon.  Michael was filling the slot vacated by Ben Rubio who had representative duties with Hampshire U20 that day.  Making use of a broad blind side, James Hardy, a flanker by trade but playing out of position on the wing, showed strength and pace to go in the corner. Michael Salmon then converted a penalty.

It looked like the game would be one way traffic, but Reading stayed in the match scoring a converted try from a break away against the run of play by their impressive No14. Nevertheless at 15-7 at half time Farnham looked and felt in control . However Reading came out after the break determined to make a game of it. 

A chip over the top found the Farnham defence out of position and the resulting converted try put Reading a point behind. Farnham struck back with their own long range try scored by the ubiquitous man of the match James Hardy. 

Reading kept the pressure on and won a penalty within range of the posts.  The conversion attempt rebounded off the upright and, giving a lesson to all attackers to follow up and all defenders to stay switched on, the Reading centre snaffled up the loose ball to score.  The try was converted putting Reading just ahead at 20-21.

The Academy kept their cool, played their rugby and struck straight back. Following up the kick off, Hardy hit the catcher hard causing a turnover which Ryan Wilson scooped up to run in another try.

Farnham were now taking control and after a series of scrums dominated by the home front row of Joe Curran, Sam Gray and Hector Hoyte Bone,  further pressure saw Ryan Wilson Farnham’s latest international pick and drive from the base to complete his hat trick – a converted try and Farnham were out of sight at 32-21. The contest was appropriately finished off with the try of the match scored by flanker James Morris. He picked up the ball behind the Reading defence, side stepped the full back and sped in beating the cover as if he had played on the wing all his life.  Salmon converted his third of the afternoon to seal the win.

“Of this season’s victories, this was the most satisfying and not just because of the impressive score line,” said Academy Coach Geoff Bond. “When Reading got their noses in front, the Academy could have panicked and lost their shape. But they had confidence in their ability, kept working hard and ran out worthy winners.”