Six points separated the two teams before the start of the game which gives an indication of how close the merit table has become half way through the season, with Esher at the top and Farnham at the bottom.  Farnham were looking forward to this first meeting of the season having had to cancel the previous meeting as they were unable to field a front row.

This really was a game of two halves, the first half belong to Esher with their large pack.  This showed in the scrummages and Esher were the quicker of the two teams to settle.  The first try went Esher’s way, quick play of the ball and some slack tackling from Farnham allowed the Esher mid-field to run through and score after only ten minutes.  Ten minutes later and Farnham were again on the back foot with good handling in the backs undoing the defence, a covering tackle from Jason Stone only delaying the inevitable.  Another converted try and Farnham were looking at a heavy defeat.

Five minutes later and Farnham were beginning to show that they too could play.  A number of successive surges from the forwards saw Farnham make ground into the Esher twenty two, and quick ball from the ruck, matched by the quick hands of Stones, saw Dom Olliff over the line and under the posts for Farnham’s reply, converted by Stuart Moore.  Farnham looking forward to the half time break fell asleep and allowed Esher to drive into the Farnham half.  From a lineout, Esher mauled their way over the line, again converted by Esher and at half time Farnham were 7 – 21 down.

After the break Farnham emerged with more purpose and began to dominate the bigger tiring forwards of Esher with some good positional kicking from Stuart Moore driving Esher back at every opportunity.  After only ten minutes, ‘little’ Mark Water picked the ball up and was driven on through the contact by the forwards, he wasn’t going to the let the ball go and fell over the line for the first try of the half.

Farnham easily absorbed what Esher had left in attack with only the mid-field posing any serious threat.  A succession of big tackles by Burrett stifled any play Esher tried to build.  Ten minutes later and Farnham were once again back in Eshers half.  A catch and drive at the lineout saw Farnham again reach the Esher line, unable to pull the maul down Karl Brown was at hand to score, this time converted by Moore.  The score now 19 – 21 and Farnham had the upper hand.

From the kick off Farnham drove back at Esher, and Esher had no option than to give a penalty away for hands in the ruck.  Well within kicking distance, Moore converted the penalty to give Farnham the lead.  Esher began to slow play down, and Farnham lost the intensity.  With minutes left on the clock, Farnham again got within distance of the posts and with Esher giving the penalty away Moore converted for a 25 – 21 lead.