FARNHAM CONSOLIDATE SECOND PLACE WITH CRUCIAL VICTORY

Farnham took another step towards winning promotion from Surrey 2 on Saturday with a hard fought win against a gnarly Old Emanuel side which showed a few changed from the side that had beaten Farnham at home earlier in the season.

Farnham knew that this was an opportunity to try and put some points between themselves and Old Emanuel who are strong contenders themselves for promotion.

A strong start was required and Farnham, unfortunately started more like a snail than a train and handed their hosts the initiative early on, with Old Emanuel racing into a 7-0 lead, thanks to a converted try following a well rehearsed backs move.

Farnham managed to work their way back into the game with the wide pitch giving the pacy back plenty of space to run into, enjoyed particularly by Gabe Hills, David Hurley and Chas Penn. Farnham managed to engineer an opening for Chas Penn who took the opportunity. The conversion attempt, by his brother Chris, unfortunately drifted just wide. Unusually, Chris also missed a penalty shortly thereafter and was heard to suggest that nearly a whole month of not drinking has adversely affected his kicking.

The match continued to drift along with two penalties to the home side before Angus Harrisson scored Farnham’s second try, which was converted by Chris Penn, leaving the half time score 13-12 to the home team.

Farnham would play up the slight hill in the second half and did so with aplomb, outdoing their hosts with their pace and width. Old Emanuel (as is always their way) tried to keep the game tight in their forwards and secured the first try of the second half with a well worked maul from a lineout. The try was unconverted from out wide and the score now 18-12 to the hosts.

Farnham then worked their way back into the match as Toby Comley made the Old Emanuel number 8 look a fool as he rounded him and proceeded to score another try. This one remained unconverted and Farnham were now a point behind going into the last ten minutes.

With about five minutes left to play Farnham had recycled the ball through several phases on the right hand side before the ball came out to the backs in acres of space, Chas Penn was able to stroll in for his second try of the match, which, this time, was converted by Chris Penn.

Farnham secured the bonus point, away from home against one of the better teams in this league. This is a result which will give them much confidence as the fixtures come thick and fast in the second half of the season.

This weekend sees the visit of old rivals Battersea Ironsides who managed to secure a losing bonus point at the weekend against the league leaders Old Cranleighans. Farnham will need to be at the top of their game to beat Ironsides who are always competitive foes. If Farnham can go on to win, then the matches continue to become more and more important as the weeks go by.