No excuses as Farnham get the job jone

In other words get the job done – win and win well. Accumulate another bonus point and keep your distance at the top of the league.

The weather and the paddy-field nature of the pitch at Cranleigh was always going to be a great leveller for Farnham on Saturday. This was a day for dogged attack and defence and the taking of chances as they arose. The match kicked off in sleet and driving winds with the supporters huddled in steppe like conditions. In spite of the conditions Farnham strove to release their dangerous backs and the handling moves in the main were both effective and challenging for the limited skills of this Cranleigh XV.

Breakdowns were prevalent in the muddy conditions and after an old fashioned kick and chase Cranleigh had the opportunity for first blood with a kick in front of the posts after the ubiquitous Bond was penalised for failing to release in the tackle – the first of a barrage of baffling decisions by the Leightons-sponsored referee.

In explicably the Cranleigh kicker Johnson skewed the kick wide from 10 yds which pretty much summed up the skill levels of the home side.

From the re-start Cranleigh again kicked ahead and the powerful and subsequent man-of-the-match Tom Burnham caught and deove before releasing Corlett who freed up Fran Meagher who galloped 60 metres to touch down – the Rubio conversion followed 7-0.

Almost immediately from the restart a repeat process – a Bond take, Burnham charge – backs released and Hurley in under the posts from 60 metres to inflict further damage on the home team – 14-0 after just ten minutes with the weather threatening the whole global-warming concept.

Farnham were enjoying their periods of possession and with Hills keen to join the scorers he soon got his opportunity receiving possession just inside the Farnham 22 and accelerating after swapping passes and easing under the posts for the try. This was awarded by the referee who remarkably had yet to get out of the Farnham half – blatantly well up with play. 19-0.

The pitch had by now turned into an even bigger quagmire and frustrations and tempers began to spill over into the game which to this point had been played at a good pace and tempo. Farnham needed a further try to wrap up the bonus point and it was the moment of the match.

An attacking line-out in the home 22 and Harrison tapped ball off the top at two, quick ball to James Corlett on the charge to the posts, unstoppable. Another Rubio addition and the score 26-0.

Sadly, this wrapped up the game as a spectacle and perhaps the less said about the second period the better. The final score of 26-10 reflected some fairly rustic efforts by the Cranleigh forwards who seem more intent on flinging the handbags than the ball.

A character win – Farnham did the job with stand-out performances from Tom Burnham, Buster Bond, Mike Burton, getting back towards his best, and Dean Chiverton. When the backs got their opportunities they were clinical and on a better day well……………………..

No game on the 19th – Old Wimbledonians are our next guests on the 26th.

Report in the words of El Presidente, Geoff Bond.