This was a new local derby. Farnham have never played Basingstoke at first team level. The Hampshire club founded in 1948 have always been 'up the leagues' scaling the heights to National League 4 as recently as the 1990s. Certainly the strongest club in Hampshire for many years they have recently lost their way somewhat falling three leagues in three seasons. This was their opportunity to stop the rot.
Farnham after a narrow win in a pre-season game against London 2 SW Portsmouth last week welcomed back Pete Daly from Esher and newcomers Luke Batten from Bracknell and winger Rory Pringle. The lunch was filled with nostalgia and reminisces and the usual Farnham hospitality. With cricket rained off, the crowd had swelled to 200ish by kick off.
The South African referee, he of the shrill whistle, set proceedings under way in swirling drizzle with a breeze blowing towards the Nursery end. The pattern was obvious: smash out through Daly and the Williams boys with Batten on the charge then recycle and work the phases. Three early scrums showed Farnham were in the ascendancy through Joris, Jennings and Naisbitt in the front row. With Comley covering every blade at 7, the pack was beginning to dictate.
The greasy conditions made handling a premium, the high scrum count emphasising the early spillages.
Gradually Farnham raised the stakes - the ball was starting to stick and the handling was reaching Globetrotteresque proportions. A looping cross field break by skipper Mike Salmon from the home 22 and Corlett more direct though the centre on to co-centre Weeks and on his shoulder Toby Salmon at pace and with fast feet left the defence flat-footed to touch down outwiode. The conversion smacked the post, 5-0.
This was the purple patch from minutes 21 to 37 Farnham were rampant. After last week's rusty display this was exciting, scintillating fare. Another flowing move instigated by scrum half Oli Brown on through winger Dave Hurley to Comley in support and, again, Toby Salmon over to give brother Michael easier extras, 12-0.
From the kick off Daly on the charge burst through three tackles to feed Batten. A chip and chase and Ed Weeks outstrips the defence to dot the ball down. Senior Salmon with the conversion. 19-0.
The coup de grace again from deep with Mike Salmon through the centre on to Pringle and mazy footwork from Comley concludes a superb team try and secures the bonus point on 37 minutes - 24-0.
Does the collective foot come of the pedal at this point? Basingstoke who had been swept aside for a quarter of an hour suddenly begin to dictate play through their half backs Ed Malaby and Dave Lambert. Their back row is starting to scavenge and introduce a bit of 'dog'. Pride has been damaged! Lambert breaks out wide and puts second row Northcote over. 24-5 as the oranges beckon.
The start of the second period is disrupted as the Basingstoke replacement prop Oli John takes a knee to the head. Gingerly leaving the field after a thorough medical check-up, he takes no further part. The delay spurs Farnham and after a sweeping move through Dan Williams, centre James Corlett eases over unopposed. 29-5 on 50 minutes.
And here for the home side the frolics end. After the slickness of the first period, dourness ruled the final 30 minutes though a combination of Basingstoke cussedness, Farnham changes in the backs (moving Toby Salmon to centre disrupted the flow) and the referee's interpretation at scrum and breakdown.
Basingstoke were determined to enter the fray and the back row of Allen, Bird and their man of the match Appleby began to rule the roost. A try for winger Murdoch on 56 mins, repeated on 62 for Appleby. 29-15 and suddenly a stroll is down to two scores. A wake up call!
The game then went through a turgid period of six scrums on the Basingstoke five metre line, all scrappy, all disrupted legally or otherwise. Finally the referee loses his patience and awards Farnham the penalty try in front of the posts. Duly converted the score moved to 36-15.
Time is running down as Basingstoke through the smooth running Lambert launch their denouement attack. Power and over out wide to secure a deserved four try bonus point. Final Score 36-20.
The middle hour of the match was a superb advert for club rugby at this level. Farnham strong in the scrums and direct and innovative outside. Basingstoke when they played look a good side. They will do well in this league.
President’s Podium Points: Toby Salmon 3, Pete Daly 2, Toby Comley 1
The Farnham Team. 1. Andy Naisbitt 2. Lenny Jennings 3. Jules Joris 4. Ian Williams 5. Luke Batten 6. Dan Williams 7. Toby Comley 8. Peter Daly 9. Oliver Brown 10. Toby Salmon 11. Rory Pringle 12. James Corlett 13. Edward Weeks 14. David Hurley 15. Mike Salmon (c)
Subs 16. James Franklin 17. James Trodden 18. Andrew Freshwater