In their final home league game against local rivals Petersfield, Farnham competed gamely in atrocious conditions, only to come out losers once more. The annual President’s lunch before the game ensured a healthy turnout, and the number of spectators was further boosted by the presence of the Farnham vets team who had seen their own game against Petersfield cancelled because Petersfield could not put out a team. The weather ensured that the pitch was in a very poor state, making attacking rugby difficult, and highlighting once more Farnham’s desperate need to move to a new ground as soon as possible.

Having lost by 60 points to the same opposition earlier in the season, Farnham were keen to show how much they have improved, and fired up by stand in captain Karl Brown, they dominated the first twenty minutes of the match with some excellent forward driving pinning Petersfield inside their own 22. Crucially Farnham failed to turn this pressure into points, and allowed Petersfield to break and score with one of their first attacks. With the wind at their backs, Farnham responded well, but too often they tried to play to much rugby inside their own half instead of using the wind to pin the opposition back.

The intensity and organisation of the Farnham forwards was impressive as they strung a number of phases together, with 2^nd rows Steve Bushy and Gareth Yeomans to the fore, but the pack need to be more clinical in future matches if they are going to convert this good work into points. Andy James did kick a penalty, but further chances went begging. The Farnham scrum held up well, with Andy Coutts, super-vet Keith Harding, and Chris Greenwood creating a stable front row platform, and Ritchie Phillips had the opportunity to pick and carry the ball from No: 8 on several occasions.

Defensively the midfield pairing of Nic Robertson and Chris Dury handled the Petersfield centres comfortably, negating what had been a key attacking weapon for Petersfield on their home ground. Unfortunately once again an attempted tackle out wide, executed too high, allowed Petersfield to break and score a second try, and despite having had the majority of possession and territory Farnham trailed at the break.

In the second half Farnham continued to compete strongly, but clever use of the wind saw Petersfield claw back valuable territory, and they did not make the same mistakes as Farnham had, by taking every penalty and try scoring opportunity that came their way. At 27-3 the game was won, and there followed a 15 minute period of awful rugby to match the conditions, when a succession of lineouts and scrums around the half way line saw the ball repeatedly knocked on or turned over, with only the forwards involved. 

One pleasing thing from this season is that Farnham have shown character in adversity, and this emerging Farnham side deserve great credit for not giving in, and they deservedly scored a try when several bullocking forward runners created space out wide for some unselfish handling to put Ritchie Phillips over.

At the final whistle all of the players were pleased to get out of the appalling conditions and into the showers, but having warmed up the Farnham players should not feel to disheartened about their performance in what were very difficult conditions. Farnham continue to have good numbers at training, and the players will continue to work hard as they prepare for their final league game (away to Trojans on the 12^th April) and their annual sevens on the 26^th April. Farnham players and supporters are also reminded that the Player’s Supper takes place on the 2^nd May at the club, with tickets available from the team captains.