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Sat 08 Apr 2017 ·  London 3 South West
Basingstoke
1st XV
5
61
End of Season Romp for Farnham at sunny Basingstoke
Mark Weeks9 Apr 2017 - 09:46
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This was real end of season Barbarian rugby
This was real end of season Barbarian rugby from a Farnham XV priming themselves for the National RFU Vase Semi Final versus Saltash at Monkton Lane next Saturday - yes Easter Saturday April 15th at 2.30 or 12.30 for lunch.
The biggest game in the club's short history - another win, to add to the 21 wins already secured, and Farnham will play the winners of the Northern Division at Twickenham on May 6th for this prestigious trophy. Places in the semi final squad and, potentially, the final were up for grabs. Farnham had decided to rest star men Toby Salmon and Pete Daly - Coach Jamie Salmon adamant that this was not a walk in the park - everyone was playing for their place.
Daniel Williams, in at 8 for Daly and eventual man of the match, James Franklin and Ian Williams in the row with form man Toby Comley and the feisty Jason Crabb on the flanks. The depth of the squad is starting to pay dividends.
The game kicked off in bright warm, bordering on hot, sunshine after a superb Sponsor's Lunch for 150 in the Club House. Home support was ready for the encounter.
The Hampshire Society referee, the rotund Simon Aldridge started proceedings, the last league game of the season with the temperature at 21oC - agreed drinks every 20 or so minutes.
Farnham out of the blocks harassing the opposition - pressure across the field - Toby Comley attacking the Basingstoke fly-half - deliberate knock on? Yellow Card after three minutes when a warning might have been the order of the day.
The Champions are made of sterner stuff - penalty fielded by the increasingly impressive Ben Jones, Oli Brown barking out the orders - yards gained - Ian Williams driving then back to Jones - Gabe Hills in for the opener. 0-5.
A series of sweeping attacks from the visitors - only the 'Stoke number 8 Northcote has enough nous to disrupt. The home side are under serious pressure - young and inexperienced they manage to spill pass after pass - Crabb and Dan Williams cleaning up the spoils.
Comley back to the fray and after a Naisbitt charge Skipper Mike Salmon in under the posts with his own conversion success. 0-12.
No respite for Basingstoke - under the cosh they concede another penalty after a superb line from Andy Coutts - quick thinking through Mike Salmon, enjoying a rare run out at fly half with brother Toby unwillingly rested, on to Jemi Akin-Olagbade (Jemi) and a perfectly timed pass to Toby Comley screaming up on his right - unstoppable and 0-19 with the Salmon conversion.
The scrum through Jennings, Coutts and Naisbitt is too powerful for the home pack - the Hampshire referee indecisive - damage is starting to occur. The tight five are creating havoc. The scrum has become too one-sided. A Farnham break out and the diminutive Oli Brown just bundled into touch one metre out. No let up in the attack and full back Gabe Hills, easing back to his best form, twinkle toes over from the 22 - untouched and the swagger returns. Easy extras for the skipper 0-26 at half time.
Farnham ring the changes - Comley and Brown off - Frost and Chalker on - Basingstoke starting to wilt from the heat and the pressure. Farnham enjoying space and running rugby. Fast hands through both backs and forwards - Basingstoke stretched - Jemi, Ed Weeks and on to Salmon held - reset by Dan Williams and Andy Naisbitt through a gap - unstoppable from three metres out. Easy for the skipper again 0-33.
This is turning into a romp. Penalty Farnham on the home 22 - quick from Brown - Joris on the charge, Jemi to Ben Jones released and under the posts 0-38 plus the extras.
Straight from the kick off another expansive sweeping Farnham attack - knock on five metres out and the advantage taken by the home winger Brent Evans - 80 metres for the consolation score. 5-40.
Back come Farnham Reece Stennet belying his weight driving forward held, man of the match Dan Williams on hand - forty metres gained and on to Franklin - Mike Salmon on the burst and on to everywhere-man Toby Comley - try and again the bonus from Salmon. 5-47.
The referee should consider stopping the fight - the Stoke number 8, their man of the match by some distance, is starting to frustrate both the referee and the Farnham pack - line out and another blistering attack through Ed Weeks on to the ageless Jemi - try and easy extras. 5-54.
The scrums have been uncontested for the major part of the second half - never satisfactory but prop health and safety is paramount. Easy ball and no intensity - the denouement a superb Mike Salmon hold and pop pass Ed Weeks in under the posts - conversion for the provider. 5-61.
A superb performance by a much changed Farnham Squad to end a tremendous season. Over a 1000 points scored in the league over just 22 games.
These boys deserve to put the icing on the cake over the next month. Next up - Saltash and then Twickenham Glory? Come down and cheer them on.
Podium
Daniel Williams - 3 points - superb throughout
Toby Comley - 2 - another great all round performance
Mike Salmon - 1 - slotted into fly half and led from the front.
The biggest game in the club's short history - another win, to add to the 21 wins already secured, and Farnham will play the winners of the Northern Division at Twickenham on May 6th for this prestigious trophy. Places in the semi final squad and, potentially, the final were up for grabs. Farnham had decided to rest star men Toby Salmon and Pete Daly - Coach Jamie Salmon adamant that this was not a walk in the park - everyone was playing for their place.
Daniel Williams, in at 8 for Daly and eventual man of the match, James Franklin and Ian Williams in the row with form man Toby Comley and the feisty Jason Crabb on the flanks. The depth of the squad is starting to pay dividends.
The game kicked off in bright warm, bordering on hot, sunshine after a superb Sponsor's Lunch for 150 in the Club House. Home support was ready for the encounter.
The Hampshire Society referee, the rotund Simon Aldridge started proceedings, the last league game of the season with the temperature at 21oC - agreed drinks every 20 or so minutes.
Farnham out of the blocks harassing the opposition - pressure across the field - Toby Comley attacking the Basingstoke fly-half - deliberate knock on? Yellow Card after three minutes when a warning might have been the order of the day.
The Champions are made of sterner stuff - penalty fielded by the increasingly impressive Ben Jones, Oli Brown barking out the orders - yards gained - Ian Williams driving then back to Jones - Gabe Hills in for the opener. 0-5.
A series of sweeping attacks from the visitors - only the 'Stoke number 8 Northcote has enough nous to disrupt. The home side are under serious pressure - young and inexperienced they manage to spill pass after pass - Crabb and Dan Williams cleaning up the spoils.
Comley back to the fray and after a Naisbitt charge Skipper Mike Salmon in under the posts with his own conversion success. 0-12.
No respite for Basingstoke - under the cosh they concede another penalty after a superb line from Andy Coutts - quick thinking through Mike Salmon, enjoying a rare run out at fly half with brother Toby unwillingly rested, on to Jemi Akin-Olagbade (Jemi) and a perfectly timed pass to Toby Comley screaming up on his right - unstoppable and 0-19 with the Salmon conversion.
The scrum through Jennings, Coutts and Naisbitt is too powerful for the home pack - the Hampshire referee indecisive - damage is starting to occur. The tight five are creating havoc. The scrum has become too one-sided. A Farnham break out and the diminutive Oli Brown just bundled into touch one metre out. No let up in the attack and full back Gabe Hills, easing back to his best form, twinkle toes over from the 22 - untouched and the swagger returns. Easy extras for the skipper 0-26 at half time.
Farnham ring the changes - Comley and Brown off - Frost and Chalker on - Basingstoke starting to wilt from the heat and the pressure. Farnham enjoying space and running rugby. Fast hands through both backs and forwards - Basingstoke stretched - Jemi, Ed Weeks and on to Salmon held - reset by Dan Williams and Andy Naisbitt through a gap - unstoppable from three metres out. Easy for the skipper again 0-33.
This is turning into a romp. Penalty Farnham on the home 22 - quick from Brown - Joris on the charge, Jemi to Ben Jones released and under the posts 0-38 plus the extras.
Straight from the kick off another expansive sweeping Farnham attack - knock on five metres out and the advantage taken by the home winger Brent Evans - 80 metres for the consolation score. 5-40.
Back come Farnham Reece Stennet belying his weight driving forward held, man of the match Dan Williams on hand - forty metres gained and on to Franklin - Mike Salmon on the burst and on to everywhere-man Toby Comley - try and again the bonus from Salmon. 5-47.
The referee should consider stopping the fight - the Stoke number 8, their man of the match by some distance, is starting to frustrate both the referee and the Farnham pack - line out and another blistering attack through Ed Weeks on to the ageless Jemi - try and easy extras. 5-54.
The scrums have been uncontested for the major part of the second half - never satisfactory but prop health and safety is paramount. Easy ball and no intensity - the denouement a superb Mike Salmon hold and pop pass Ed Weeks in under the posts - conversion for the provider. 5-61.
A superb performance by a much changed Farnham Squad to end a tremendous season. Over a 1000 points scored in the league over just 22 games.
These boys deserve to put the icing on the cake over the next month. Next up - Saltash and then Twickenham Glory? Come down and cheer them on.
Podium
Daniel Williams - 3 points - superb throughout
Toby Comley - 2 - another great all round performance
Mike Salmon - 1 - slotted into fly half and led from the front.
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