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Sat 17 Sep 2016 · London 3 South West
Millbrook
1st XV
13
43
Fifty minute shift see Farnham cruise to a win
Mark Weeks21 Sep 2016 - 08:46
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More killer instinct required. As the fixtures get tougher Farnham will need more 'feet on the jugular'.
The season has started well for Farnham - two bonus point wins and equal top of the league with old rivals Eastleigh. When this team starts to play for the full eighty then surely results will satisfy both the coaching staff and the players themselves. The first 10 and the last 20 mins were non-events. Importantly, for the purists, some of the scores in the middle 50 mins were, as last week, absolutely stunning.
The core of the Farnham team mirrored the Basingstoke side but with Oli Brown not available Mr Utility Toby Comley slotted in at scrum half - Luke Jermyn replacing Rory Pringle on the wing.
Millbrook, promoted from Hampshire One last season, kicked off with a stiff breeze at their backs. Their experienced fly-half probing the corners pushed Farnham back into their 22 - frustrations mounted. Penalty. Millbrook calmly converted. The raking kicks continue and Farnham are starved of possession. Another Millbrook penalty, the Hampshire Society referee - pedantic throughout - is not yet on the Farnham wavelength. Penalty missed and a Farnham breakout. Jemi Akin Olugbade on for the injured Dave Hurley is forcefully through the centre to eventual Man of the match James Corlett. A chance - a floated pass from Toby Salmon, and a rare misjudgement, intercept and the Millbrook winger 80 metres for a try. The extras and Millbrook are 10-0 up against the run of play. Farnham are yet to enter the fray.
Stern words at the re-start and Farnham go for the corner. Line-0ut and a catch and drive - Hooker Lenny Jennings bundled over by front row colleagues Joris and Naisbitt - the visitors are on a roll.
The backs are beginning to click - Akin breaking tackles and on to Corlett - the direct route and Naisbitt on to Comley 10-12 with the conversion by Mike Salmon.
Millbrook come back and on 25 minutes - silly penalty 13-12 to the resilient and determined home side. Frustration for the Farnham coaches - sharp words from backs coach Jamie Salmon and son Toby promptly ignores the advice with a burst that breaks tackle after tackle try under the posts - a family affair as brother Mike adds the pair 13-19.
Farnham are now up through the gears and a scrum on the Millbrook 22 allows Jermyn to show his skills a chip along the touchline, gathered and dotted down at the corner flag. Salmon unlucky with the conversion. 13-24 at half-time.
The second half begins - Helter Skelter - Millbrook, now into the breeze, force the pace, lose possession and Farnham move on to the attack - a chance for Toby Salmon to show his kicking skills. It is going to be a long half for the home team - pinned back. Five metre line and another catch and drive - Luke Batten spinning out of the maul to open his Farnham try account - unstoppable.
Millbrook are under the cosh - two yellow cards - makes the task even tougher. Comley is pulling the strings at scrum half - Daly at 8 with Williams' Dan and Ian and the rejuvenated James Franklin are punishing the tiring home pack. No respite as Weeks cuts back on a direct line to score under the posts. Easy for Salmon 13-36.
Annoying for the Farnham faithful as the game drifts towards its conclusion. The referee eventually loses patience with the Millbrook pack at the scrum - penalty try plus another Salmon conversion: 13-43.
Farnham enjoyed a cruise to victory - two fixtures and two wins but both have taken place over 50 minutes - the coaching team will be looking for complete performances as the season unfolds.
Hardly a weak point in the side. Wings Jermyn and Weeks are pacey and direct; centres Corlett and Akin are strong, line breakers; Mike Salmon with so much power on the burst from full back and brother Toby using all his not inconsiderable skills to dictate the play. Comley is a superb club servant - classy wherever he plays.
In the pack - strength and guile in the front row, Joris, Jennings and Naisbitt, Williams and Franklin in the row with Dan Williams, Pete Daly and Luke Batten as the breakaways - a good balance.
But more killer instinct required. As the fixtures get tougher Farnham will need more 'feet on the jugular'. I’m sure the coaches are on it.
The core of the Farnham team mirrored the Basingstoke side but with Oli Brown not available Mr Utility Toby Comley slotted in at scrum half - Luke Jermyn replacing Rory Pringle on the wing.
Millbrook, promoted from Hampshire One last season, kicked off with a stiff breeze at their backs. Their experienced fly-half probing the corners pushed Farnham back into their 22 - frustrations mounted. Penalty. Millbrook calmly converted. The raking kicks continue and Farnham are starved of possession. Another Millbrook penalty, the Hampshire Society referee - pedantic throughout - is not yet on the Farnham wavelength. Penalty missed and a Farnham breakout. Jemi Akin Olugbade on for the injured Dave Hurley is forcefully through the centre to eventual Man of the match James Corlett. A chance - a floated pass from Toby Salmon, and a rare misjudgement, intercept and the Millbrook winger 80 metres for a try. The extras and Millbrook are 10-0 up against the run of play. Farnham are yet to enter the fray.
Stern words at the re-start and Farnham go for the corner. Line-0ut and a catch and drive - Hooker Lenny Jennings bundled over by front row colleagues Joris and Naisbitt - the visitors are on a roll.
The backs are beginning to click - Akin breaking tackles and on to Corlett - the direct route and Naisbitt on to Comley 10-12 with the conversion by Mike Salmon.
Millbrook come back and on 25 minutes - silly penalty 13-12 to the resilient and determined home side. Frustration for the Farnham coaches - sharp words from backs coach Jamie Salmon and son Toby promptly ignores the advice with a burst that breaks tackle after tackle try under the posts - a family affair as brother Mike adds the pair 13-19.
Farnham are now up through the gears and a scrum on the Millbrook 22 allows Jermyn to show his skills a chip along the touchline, gathered and dotted down at the corner flag. Salmon unlucky with the conversion. 13-24 at half-time.
The second half begins - Helter Skelter - Millbrook, now into the breeze, force the pace, lose possession and Farnham move on to the attack - a chance for Toby Salmon to show his kicking skills. It is going to be a long half for the home team - pinned back. Five metre line and another catch and drive - Luke Batten spinning out of the maul to open his Farnham try account - unstoppable.
Millbrook are under the cosh - two yellow cards - makes the task even tougher. Comley is pulling the strings at scrum half - Daly at 8 with Williams' Dan and Ian and the rejuvenated James Franklin are punishing the tiring home pack. No respite as Weeks cuts back on a direct line to score under the posts. Easy for Salmon 13-36.
Annoying for the Farnham faithful as the game drifts towards its conclusion. The referee eventually loses patience with the Millbrook pack at the scrum - penalty try plus another Salmon conversion: 13-43.
Farnham enjoyed a cruise to victory - two fixtures and two wins but both have taken place over 50 minutes - the coaching team will be looking for complete performances as the season unfolds.
Hardly a weak point in the side. Wings Jermyn and Weeks are pacey and direct; centres Corlett and Akin are strong, line breakers; Mike Salmon with so much power on the burst from full back and brother Toby using all his not inconsiderable skills to dictate the play. Comley is a superb club servant - classy wherever he plays.
In the pack - strength and guile in the front row, Joris, Jennings and Naisbitt, Williams and Franklin in the row with Dan Williams, Pete Daly and Luke Batten as the breakaways - a good balance.
But more killer instinct required. As the fixtures get tougher Farnham will need more 'feet on the jugular'. I’m sure the coaches are on it.
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