Back
Sat 21 Nov 2015 ·  London 3 South West
Teddington
1st XV
30
23
Farnham scrapped out of the spoils
Mark Weeks23 Nov 2015 - 11:42
Share via
On the first wintry weekend of the season Farnham just lost out to Teddington who scrapped for every loose ball to make their own luck.
This Farnham side were unrecognisable from the lacklustre unit who lost to Tonbridgians two weeks ago. A bold attacking start augured well - a flowing attack patiently keeping the ball at pace for seventeen phases saw No 8 Devonian Dan Williams crash over for the opening try after just four minutes. The blustery conditions made it difficult and the conversion was just pushed wide by skipper Michael Salmon. Buoyed by their start Farnham roared back and drove for the Antlers line. A desperate tackle halted Flyhalf Toby Salmon in his tracks and unfortunately ended his proceedings with a twisted ankle, the resulting penalty pushed Farnham ahead by 0-8 with brother Mike on the scoreboard.
Antlers, third in the league to Farnham's second were bound to react and react they did driving through some uncharacteristic flimsy defence to score by the posts 7-8. Farnham had become too used to attacking and had paid for not doing the gnarly defensive aspects of the game.
The pluses - the front row of Naisbitt, Jennings and Joris were starting to turn the screw at the scrum and on a day of cold hands there would be plenty of opportunities to dominate. With Ben Adams and Meagher, on for the injured Salmon in a reshuffled pack, also winning plenty of line out ball the signs looked good. A penalty forty yards out was drilled to the corner by Salmon Snr and from a great catch off the top by the rangy Ben Adams the pack drove for the line with that man Dan Williams in control to drive over for the second of his brace of tries. Still good signs. 7-13.
The pace continued at frenetic levels with the Antlers backs beginning to take the ball on at speed with a series of breakouts halted by the Farnham defence. Pressure was beginning to tell and Meagher adjudged to have tackled high - penalty and the gap closed to 10-13.
With the half time whistle approaching the Antlers scented blood, the ball was bouncing their way and a delightful cross field kick sat up for the Teddington winger who romped over under the posts splitting the turning and exposed Farnham defence. Easy extras to make the interval score 17-13 to the hosts. Frustrating for Farnham as the bulk of the play had been in the Teddington half. Some days it is a funny shaped ball and this was proving to be the case for the always reliable Toby Comley who must have wondered who he had upset as he received a succession of bad bounces and swirling kicks. These occurred after he had just broken out of defence to sprint fifty yards to the line before freeing up Fran Meagher in support to go over under the posts. Easy for Mike Salmon and Farnham deservedly back in front 20-17.
More pressure from Farnham and a penalty extends the lead to 17-23. The faithful are starting to nail bite - can the visitors hold on?
Pleasure to pain as Comley spills the ball under the swirling breeze and just 5 metres out. One effort from the creaking Teddington pack and bulky prop Matthews crashes over under the posts for what proves to be the clinching score. A formality for the kicker 24-23 with five minutes on the clock.
Farnham drive for the corner and the most ridiculous law in rugby thwarts the Farnham pack. A catch and drive but wait The Antlers pack have not competed therefore as soon as the drive starts its deemed to be "truck and trailer" - umm! Time for a law change to stop this ridiculous non compete clause. Timely and seasonal it turned the referee into a Panto Villain for the Farnham supporters.
Back come Teddington kicking for territory - penalty 27-23.
Disappointed Farnham concede another penalty with the last throw of the dice to lose by 30-23. A bonus point loss but again what might have been. No excuses - Teddington bristled with intent, scrapped for every ball, annoyed their opponents, got under their skin and played to their strengths - pacy backs supported by some outstanding forwards.
The return fixture will be interesting in the New Year.
Podium
Dan Williams - 3 pts two tries and rampaged as a good 8 should.
Ben Adams - 2 pts and ruled the line outs.
Oli Brown -1 buzzed all afternoon
If there were special awards then the front row would win the group points. Rocklike dominance by Andy Naisbitt, Lenny Jennings and Jules Joris backed by our Samoan prop Ben Vailua.
Antlers, third in the league to Farnham's second were bound to react and react they did driving through some uncharacteristic flimsy defence to score by the posts 7-8. Farnham had become too used to attacking and had paid for not doing the gnarly defensive aspects of the game.
The pluses - the front row of Naisbitt, Jennings and Joris were starting to turn the screw at the scrum and on a day of cold hands there would be plenty of opportunities to dominate. With Ben Adams and Meagher, on for the injured Salmon in a reshuffled pack, also winning plenty of line out ball the signs looked good. A penalty forty yards out was drilled to the corner by Salmon Snr and from a great catch off the top by the rangy Ben Adams the pack drove for the line with that man Dan Williams in control to drive over for the second of his brace of tries. Still good signs. 7-13.
The pace continued at frenetic levels with the Antlers backs beginning to take the ball on at speed with a series of breakouts halted by the Farnham defence. Pressure was beginning to tell and Meagher adjudged to have tackled high - penalty and the gap closed to 10-13.
With the half time whistle approaching the Antlers scented blood, the ball was bouncing their way and a delightful cross field kick sat up for the Teddington winger who romped over under the posts splitting the turning and exposed Farnham defence. Easy extras to make the interval score 17-13 to the hosts. Frustrating for Farnham as the bulk of the play had been in the Teddington half. Some days it is a funny shaped ball and this was proving to be the case for the always reliable Toby Comley who must have wondered who he had upset as he received a succession of bad bounces and swirling kicks. These occurred after he had just broken out of defence to sprint fifty yards to the line before freeing up Fran Meagher in support to go over under the posts. Easy for Mike Salmon and Farnham deservedly back in front 20-17.
More pressure from Farnham and a penalty extends the lead to 17-23. The faithful are starting to nail bite - can the visitors hold on?
Pleasure to pain as Comley spills the ball under the swirling breeze and just 5 metres out. One effort from the creaking Teddington pack and bulky prop Matthews crashes over under the posts for what proves to be the clinching score. A formality for the kicker 24-23 with five minutes on the clock.
Farnham drive for the corner and the most ridiculous law in rugby thwarts the Farnham pack. A catch and drive but wait The Antlers pack have not competed therefore as soon as the drive starts its deemed to be "truck and trailer" - umm! Time for a law change to stop this ridiculous non compete clause. Timely and seasonal it turned the referee into a Panto Villain for the Farnham supporters.
Back come Teddington kicking for territory - penalty 27-23.
Disappointed Farnham concede another penalty with the last throw of the dice to lose by 30-23. A bonus point loss but again what might have been. No excuses - Teddington bristled with intent, scrapped for every ball, annoyed their opponents, got under their skin and played to their strengths - pacy backs supported by some outstanding forwards.
The return fixture will be interesting in the New Year.
Podium
Dan Williams - 3 pts two tries and rampaged as a good 8 should.
Ben Adams - 2 pts and ruled the line outs.
Oli Brown -1 buzzed all afternoon
If there were special awards then the front row would win the group points. Rocklike dominance by Andy Naisbitt, Lenny Jennings and Jules Joris backed by our Samoan prop Ben Vailua.
Further reading
Team Sponsors
