Farnham through the season’s first real test – just!

After five bonus point league wins a real battle at Monkton Lane when Farnham welcomed Haywards Heath from London South East 3 for the first round of the RFU Senior Vase. An experienced club, Haywards Heath have been successful up to London South 1. This was going to be a contest.
With a referee under review and a swirling wind, this was going to be a test for both sides. As kick off approached the crowd swelled to league game proportions. It was apparent from the off that Farnham, with a number of changes, were going to be in for possibly their first real battle of the season.
Haywards Heath fielded a big mobile pack - Miller and Shotton in the row were taller and slighter than the Williams boys and the visitors back row of Salisbury, Main and Bell were determined to battle with Dan Williams, Buster Bond and Pete Daly.
The scene was set. After some sparring, Farnham were awarded a penalty. Toby Salmon kicked to the corner. At the line out Jonny Davidson was inch perfect to Daly. The driving maul made a yard or two and then released Toby Salmon who put James Corlett in the smallest of gaps yet with a ghosting run and shrugged off tackles, he’s over. 5-0 and a poor miss with the extras from skipper Mike Salmon.
Farnham are enjoying the wind at their backs and drive into the visitors 22. Oli Brown had to be sharp at scrum half with an experienced Sussex County 9 Menefy on his tail. After a massive Farnham scrum, he shrugs off a tackle to release Toby Salmon and following quality work through the backs to Hurley on to Jermyn who flies in for the try wide out. Difficult but successful extras for skipper Mike Salmon 12-0.
Normal Service for Farnham 12-0 after 9 minutes? Errr well…No!! The Heath have come to battle and prompted by their experienced half backs Menefy and Kerins they begin to probe into the Farnham territory. Farnham are surprisingly rattled and rushed. This is a real encounter.
The visitors break out. Penalty. Kerins to the five metre line and a line out catch and drive that rolls around the line out tail. A try for Salisbury plus the Kerins conversion - 12-7.
Further frustration for Farnham. There’s trouble at the breakdown as both Buster Bond and Pete Daly - turnover specialists - are having trouble with the referee's interpretation - as are many in the crowd. The turnover is an integral part - experienced predators snap over the breakdown, strong and in a good position, scoop both ball up and opposition hands to win the ball. The decision point? If the ball goes back down it’s a penalty as the only momentum that can cause that is the tackled player pulling the ball back down. However, it’s a conundrum a number of referees struggle to address. Daly yellow carded and the frustration rises. Half time.
The temperature, pace and commitment is on the rise. Haywards Heath now have the significant breeze behind them. Full back Best is booming clearance kicks 50-60 metres to pen back Farnham and the pressure tells. Penalty and the score closes to 12-10 through Kerins trusty boot.
After a poor effort from Mike Salmon with a reciprocal penalty Farnham are stung into action. Dan Williams on the charge on to Corlett who is direct as is Mike Salmon who smashes through tackles to score both try and extras 19-10.
At last Farnham are starting to show their class. The Heath pack are frustrated and there’s some cynical defending at a line out and not for the first time so Heath lock Shotton takes a five-minute break. Penalty to Farnham and a scrum against the reduced visitors pack. Daly on the drive but stopped illegally. Penalty try plus 2 from Mike Salmon. 26-10.
Game over?
Five minutes remaining and back come the visitors. A rolling attack of successive pick and drives with body angles optimum and Heath are over. But a poor conversion attempt by Kerins could prove costly. 26-15.
The clock running down and Farnham on the back foot in their own 22. Heath scrum power and quick hands allows Fotheringham a try followed by a successful conversion 26-22.
Farnham kick off caught - into touch - Full Time - Phewww!!!
The result "never in doubt" according to Club President Geoff Bond. But realistically, these were two evenly matched sides and the game was a testament to the skill and fitness levels of both squads. It was a good battle prior to the top-of-the-table clash with Eastleigh – and Farnham keep their winning ways.

Podium.
Mike Salmon - apart from a couple of duffed kicks - 3 points
Trodds - could be Nike - "Just do it" 2 points
Jordan Frost – his first run out, young & naive but did the biz - 1 point