Farnham move back to the top

Perfect conditions greeted another reshuffled Farnham Squad to old league and cup rivals Weybridge, formerly University Vandals, on Saturday. Hospitality for the visiting committee members as the Vandals celebrated 50 seasons for one of their seniors - a true rugby man and a real servant to a lovely old club.
The contest - big start by Vandals possession at a premium and a multi-phase attack into the Farnham half, the penalties mount, Farnham not clear of the breakdown, not ten yards - kickable and 3-0 to Vandals.
Again the tried and trusted adage if you want an international referee you need to be playing internationals is absolutely clear - this was going to be a frustrating day for both sides. The final official assessment - no further comments.
Toby Salmon with brother Mike outside paired with James Corlett start to control the pace and tempo of the game and with Toby Comley and Buster Bond back to their scavenging best Farnham start to break out after their early malaise. Traffic problems on the A3/M3 had delayed the visitor’s arrival but now the journey was out of the system.
The front row of Joris, Jennings and Batten are dominating and with Ian Williams and James Franklin in the row, the scrum is going the way of the visitors despite the seemingly larger Vandals 8. Davison, Comley and Bond are bossing the breakdown - does the referee notice?
After a frustrating first fifteen minutes a superb up and under from Toby Salmon opens the door - Vandals knock on and Farnham drive to the corner, desperate defence and a Farnham attacking line out. Spot on from Lennie Jennings and a text book transfer with Batten and Bond in the rearguard. Drive and Batten with the try.
No extras with a tricky breeze.
Again, a frustrating period. The pace frenetic but the continuity fragmented. The game cannot flow. The penalties mount to the annoyance of both sides and the spectators. The coaches of both sides desperately settling their players - the referee is the sole arbiter.
However, on this occasion it has done nothing for the spectacle.
Penalty Farnham - and a quick-thinking Toby Salmon dummy to winger Ed Weeks and over for a cheeky quick try. Easy extras and Farnham stretch their lead to 3-12 on half time.
Three successive weeks have seen Farnham close to just one score ahead at the break. A good trend as now the wind is in their favour and the heavier Vandals pack are starting to wilt.
Farnham are beginning to go through the phases playing a fast, dynamic, fifteen-man support game the phases mount, over twenty and still Vandals cannot secure the ball, Jermyn on the right wing and Armstrong at full back are complementing Weeks in a probing back three. Scrum half Ben Jones prompting as the attack continues to build. Batten and Bond over for a superb 80 metre multi-phase try. Denied - the referee unsighted on the wrong side of the action - again!!
Vandals deemed to have turned the ball over but penalised for crossing - penalty and an easy three for Toby Salmon. 3-15.
Farnham with again so many changes are starting to gel, the kick off stolen by Vandals and Bond in the tackle battered, the claret flows and a five -minute break. The Farnham pack leader to A&E with an ugly looking ear injury - a family trait!!
Young Reece Stennet joins the fray on the flank. Vandals seize the opportunity of a realigned back row and from an attacking line out use their sizeable No3 as the battering ram to create space for their chunky No10 to bulldoze over under the posts. Extras taken and for the travelling supporters, it’s a nervy 10-15 with 55 mins gone.
The kick-off goes straight out but at the restart scrum, the dominant Farnham pack disrupt and with scrappy ball Vandals can only stutter down the blind side. Ed Weeks gathers the loose ball and makes 20 yards down the left wing. Farnham then put in the phases left to right and back again and with the Vandals defence stretched, Toby Salmon trots over out wide. Maybe he should have cut in closer to the posts as the extras are missed. 10-20 and there are signs that Farnham’s patient game plan will bear fruit again.
Vandals come back battering up the middle but eventually the ball is spilled and the predatory Toby Comely breaks out up the right touchline only for the try scoring pass to go astray. Forwards to the rescue! Turnover at the set piece and Corlett runs a delicious line against the grain to go in under the posts. T. Salmon with the extras and a comfortable gap of 17 points.
Vandals allow the restart to bounce into touch on their 22 and despite vigorous execution of their “bosh it up the middle” game plan, the Farnham defence holds firm and Vandals cannot exit their half. When Farnham do regain possession some baffling decisions by the referee deny them another score. However, the pressure is sustained and once again the Farnham pack win the scrum on the Vandal’s put in and with their back row tied in to avoid being shoved back further, the space is there for Toby Salmon to skip and step and go in under the posts. With easy extras its 10-34.
Credit to Vandals, they come straight back and power into the Farnham 22. Will they score a consolation try? Farnham are streets ahead of their rivals in the league when it comes to points difference helped in the main by a sharp cutting edge. But a three-man choke tackle on Vandal’s attacker to earn the turnover on the final play of the game pays tribute to the team's resolute and niggardly defence.
A bonus point win puts Farnham clear by one point at the top of the league. Next week-end we entertain Old Cranleighians who are closing in fellow league leaders Eastleigh. It should be a cracking game. KO 2.30 and preceded by the club lunch – contact chairman@farnhamrugby.org to book your seat(s).
Presidents Podium
Toby Samlon - 3 – a class above
Luke Batten -2 – met bosh with bosh
Cameron Armstrong – 1 – hands equipped with magnets at the back.