Farnham fall at final hurdle

This week saw Farnham in the Final of the London and South East Junior Vase with another away game at Wymondham just outside Norwich. A coach left a wet and windy Wilkinson way on a long journey towards Norwich with high hopes of a victory that would see Farnham in a National semi-final against a side from Gloucester.
A weakened side without star names up front, Andrew Bond with an ankle injury and ball carrying Tom Burnham not available, the backs were without the two high scoring wings in Dave Hurley and skipper Toby Comley. A first team start was given to Academy and second team favourite Oliver Brown at scrum half, son of Club Captain Karl. The bench called up Barney Hart from the Vets team and Stuart Moore in the threes for his first game of the season with stalwart Richard Phillips covering the back row.
It was a very windy day at Wymondham, the pitch had been very wet recently but had dried enough to play in a muddy way, luckily the rain stayed away. A smaller than usual Farnham crowd were vocally in their support as the game began. Wymondham chose to play with the wind behind in the first half. Farnham started strongly with some powerful scrumaging and some probing running from Gabe Hills at full back. Farnham were awarded an early penalty and had a chance for an early lead, but the strong wind denied fly half Ben Rubio. With ten minutes gone Wymondham used the wind to their advantage and a long kick down the right saw their winger put the first points on the board with a good try. The wind again made the conversion too hard. The wind advantage seemed to be important as again Wym. Kicked for the corners. On twenty minutes they scored the second try from a 5M line-out. A good catch was followed by an eight man drive and this time they went over in the right corner, but again were unable to convert. Farnham not used to going behind to this level were further miffed straight away as the Wym. Centre took an easy route through a gap and scored their third under the post and this time converted to lead 17-0 after 25 mins. This lead to a certain jubilance in the home support and especially their Welsh coach. The wakeup call now went out and the Farnham three quarters always dangerous made the break, Ben Rubio carved a gap through the centres and passed to Gabe Hills who sped past failed tackles to open the Farnham scoring on the right, again the kick was close to impossible but 5 points had been clawed back. Five minutes later after a good touch kick from Chris Penn and a good line-out jump from Angus Harrison the ball again went wide and again Gabe Hills came into the line and took an outside line to run past the defence and score out wide, the kick was again just short due to wind. From the long kick off the ball went to Pete Daly who took on the opposition but was deemed to have held the ball too long and a penalty was awarded 35M out, with the wind behind the kick was taken and a 20-10 lead was held by Wymondham.
Shortly after this a good crashing run by centre James Corlett ended in an injury and he was replaced by Stuart Moore for his debut game of the year. The half time whistle then went and into the break Farnham trailed by 10 points, but with the wind behind were confident.
The second half wind certainly benefitted Farnham in the second half, and due to quick crisp passing from Oli Brown, Ben Rubio and Chris Penn was able to clear some long balls down field. Field position was critical now. From a scrum 20M out from the Wym. Line Farnham won the ball and it was fed to Chris Penn who put his brother Chas over the line through a gap. Any ball juggling skills learnt came in useful as it seemed the ball was close to being knocked on twice. Chris took the conversion and put the score back to a 3 point difference.
Fanrham then brought on Rich Philips for Tom Foster and Veteran Barney Hart for Blackie. Farnham were close to a try minutes later after a down field kick from Chris Penn hit the 5M line. The catch and drive almost worked but was held a meter out. Farnham still piled on the pressure but were unable to cross the line. After turning down a penalty at goal previously another was given but at the max distance for both of our kickers. Chris Penn stepped up and calmly slotted the ball through the uprights. The game finished 20-All and extra time was needed.
Extra time went in a whirl wind, with good Farnham attacks that just did not have the finishing and again with the wind Wym. Took a line-out close to the Farnham line and again caught and drove and went over for the try. For all of Farnham’s efforts in the last ten minutes we could not break the defense and the whistle finally went and the game was lost by 5 points. A great well fought game, played in the best traditions of Rugby, but a chance of proper silver wear lost due to a lack of strength in depth.
The question needs addressing for the future, why we were forced to field a weakened team and why we were not able to put out a stronger bench and team in general for what was probably the biggest game in the clubs history. A great effort from all involved in the playing of the game, an even great effort by all in extra time and a proud moment for Farnham getting to the regional final, but we could have done so much better.
Congratulations to Oliver Brown who took the Farnham Man of the Match, and a Thank You to Stuart Moore who took the other award, but at least he was there for the club.