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Sat 14 Sep 2013 ·  London 3 South West
Old Mid-Whitgiftian
1st XV
3
31
Convincing win in season opener
Mark Weeks16 Sep 2013 - 08:47
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Dominant scrum and myraid back moves wears down opposition
Farnham opened their season at Croydon club - Old Mid Whitgiftians on Saturday. The day saw sweeping drizzle across the impressive sports ground that makes up the 'Mid-Wives' Club facilities.
Farnham were buoyed by recent successes in their pre-season programme,a big win against Efffingham and Leatherhead by 55-10 suggested that the build up to the 2013/14 season had gone well.
Mids won the toss and elected to play with the wind and slight slope and the first passage of play almost cost the away side. Newcomer Jason Crabb, a recent signing from Chichester, fielded the kick off and made inroads before offloading to Buster Bond who could be heard shouting "no no" as the ball and the Mids defence reached him at the same time. Communication improved from there on in.
The initial twenty minutes consisted of full pace sparring for position with both attacks going through their moves and being repelled by equalising defences. The referee was having trouble with the new scrummaging laws and his woes were exacerbated by the Mid-wives pack who, whilst being similar in weight and stature to the Farnham Pack, simply could not cope with the Farnham Drive. A front row of Lennie Jennings, Rushton and Trodden had been picked to form the power base and for their ability around the pitch - the selection worked and with an engine room of Simmons and Crabb backed by Bond, Meagher and Pete Daly the Farnham forwards began to dominate the scrums to embarrassing proportions.
The pressure at the set-piece gradually took its toll on the home side and they were forced to penalise on the retreat and Ben Rubio opened his account with an easy kick. 0-3.
The home side continued to enjoy the advantage of the slope, however, the Farnham defence employed their favoured blitz approach and with the scrummage, the Terry Whitear scrummaging machine sessions have brought success, becoming a rout Farnham at last struck just before half-time - the first set piece eight man shove was held up short, the second with the ball at Bond's feet was deliberately collapsed - Penalty try. 10-3 at half-time.
One of the advantages at this level - a level where only three substitutes are allowed - one front row, one back and, generally, one utility player - is that if a team does start to dominate both upfront and in the myriad of backs moves the opposition will tire and increasingly fail to cope with the pressure. This was the tale of second half. Pressure at the scrum, the breakdown, the tapped ball at the line-out all took the legs out of Mids. On the stroke of fifty minutes the Farnham speedster Gabe Hills received quick ball through scrum-half Ollie Brown, and on through centres James Corlett and Mike Salmon, and set off at pace to devastate the Mids defence and touch down in the corner. A nonchalant nudge from Rubio ensured the seven points were in the bag. 17-3.
The hammer blow from the kick-off finished the game as a contest as first Bond then Martin Dedman, returning to the club after some five years away on Army duties, put in massive hits on the Mids midfield. Hills received the ball and cantered in from thirty five yards out - another Rubio conversion moved the score to 24-3.
Mids were beginning to implode and were under pressure in all areas of play. Throughout the referee had failed to penalise the Mids Scrum who were in constant retreat crushed by the low driving power of the Farnham forwards. The final try was hatched on the halfway line with pack leader Bond suggesting a long range pushover. At the scrum the ball was moved quickly to Rubio at fly-half - last year's player of the season relishes these situations and stroked a grubber kick to within a yard of the Mids try-line. At the line-out the home scrum half received ball, Buster Bond and debutante new winger Andy Freshwater all at the same time - a nightmare scenario with the winger doting down his first club try. Another Rubio penalty completed proceedings 31-3.
This was an impressive opening performance to start the year's campaign. The forwards went well at scrum and breakdown however better teams will pressurise the line-out and it is impossible to gauge the season's prospects after just one game - were Mid Wives that bad, sadly yes despite having four forwards at over Six feet four they failed to make any inroads in the scrum or at the breakdown. A plus for Farnham and skipper Toby Comley will be delighted to start with a win on the road.
Farnham look forward to their first local derby of the season next Saturday at Wilkinson Way - the club will host arch rivals Camberley - the Farnham Chairman Geoff Robins will host a lunch to welcome the visitors and open the home league season. Kick-off is at 3p.m.
Farnham were buoyed by recent successes in their pre-season programme,a big win against Efffingham and Leatherhead by 55-10 suggested that the build up to the 2013/14 season had gone well.
Mids won the toss and elected to play with the wind and slight slope and the first passage of play almost cost the away side. Newcomer Jason Crabb, a recent signing from Chichester, fielded the kick off and made inroads before offloading to Buster Bond who could be heard shouting "no no" as the ball and the Mids defence reached him at the same time. Communication improved from there on in.
The initial twenty minutes consisted of full pace sparring for position with both attacks going through their moves and being repelled by equalising defences. The referee was having trouble with the new scrummaging laws and his woes were exacerbated by the Mid-wives pack who, whilst being similar in weight and stature to the Farnham Pack, simply could not cope with the Farnham Drive. A front row of Lennie Jennings, Rushton and Trodden had been picked to form the power base and for their ability around the pitch - the selection worked and with an engine room of Simmons and Crabb backed by Bond, Meagher and Pete Daly the Farnham forwards began to dominate the scrums to embarrassing proportions.
The pressure at the set-piece gradually took its toll on the home side and they were forced to penalise on the retreat and Ben Rubio opened his account with an easy kick. 0-3.
The home side continued to enjoy the advantage of the slope, however, the Farnham defence employed their favoured blitz approach and with the scrummage, the Terry Whitear scrummaging machine sessions have brought success, becoming a rout Farnham at last struck just before half-time - the first set piece eight man shove was held up short, the second with the ball at Bond's feet was deliberately collapsed - Penalty try. 10-3 at half-time.
One of the advantages at this level - a level where only three substitutes are allowed - one front row, one back and, generally, one utility player - is that if a team does start to dominate both upfront and in the myriad of backs moves the opposition will tire and increasingly fail to cope with the pressure. This was the tale of second half. Pressure at the scrum, the breakdown, the tapped ball at the line-out all took the legs out of Mids. On the stroke of fifty minutes the Farnham speedster Gabe Hills received quick ball through scrum-half Ollie Brown, and on through centres James Corlett and Mike Salmon, and set off at pace to devastate the Mids defence and touch down in the corner. A nonchalant nudge from Rubio ensured the seven points were in the bag. 17-3.
The hammer blow from the kick-off finished the game as a contest as first Bond then Martin Dedman, returning to the club after some five years away on Army duties, put in massive hits on the Mids midfield. Hills received the ball and cantered in from thirty five yards out - another Rubio conversion moved the score to 24-3.
Mids were beginning to implode and were under pressure in all areas of play. Throughout the referee had failed to penalise the Mids Scrum who were in constant retreat crushed by the low driving power of the Farnham forwards. The final try was hatched on the halfway line with pack leader Bond suggesting a long range pushover. At the scrum the ball was moved quickly to Rubio at fly-half - last year's player of the season relishes these situations and stroked a grubber kick to within a yard of the Mids try-line. At the line-out the home scrum half received ball, Buster Bond and debutante new winger Andy Freshwater all at the same time - a nightmare scenario with the winger doting down his first club try. Another Rubio penalty completed proceedings 31-3.
This was an impressive opening performance to start the year's campaign. The forwards went well at scrum and breakdown however better teams will pressurise the line-out and it is impossible to gauge the season's prospects after just one game - were Mid Wives that bad, sadly yes despite having four forwards at over Six feet four they failed to make any inroads in the scrum or at the breakdown. A plus for Farnham and skipper Toby Comley will be delighted to start with a win on the road.
Farnham look forward to their first local derby of the season next Saturday at Wilkinson Way - the club will host arch rivals Camberley - the Farnham Chairman Geoff Robins will host a lunch to welcome the visitors and open the home league season. Kick-off is at 3p.m.
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