Farnham triumph in Top-of-Table Thriller

From our pitch side reporters Geoff Bond and Steve Alexander.
The appetiser to this feast of rugby was a superb lunch hosted by club Chairman Geoff Robins. After welcoming the 130 guests, Geoff produced a trophy won by the Farnham Under 10 team at a Portsmouth Rugby Club festival in 1999. That trophy is inscribed with the names of three of the day’s Farnham senior side, a sure sign of the organic development of talent in the club. Congratulations went to Ben Rubio, Mike Salmon and Ed Weeks and of course, a big “thank you” to their fathers who were also present.

The Farnham team was at full strength bar its inspirational fly half Chris Penn who suffered complications from dental surgery. Skipper Toby Comley moved into scrum half with Chas Penn taking the wing.

The game kicked off with a teasing wind directly behind the powerful looking KCS XV. Determined to preserve their unbeaten record, they promised a long and hard game.

Early tackle-breaking runs from full back Hills reminded KCS of his ever present danger. However, KCS were first to exert a period of pressure and following a scrum at which Farnham were penalised for feeding, their talented full back slotted the kick for a 3 point lead. Farnham fought back and were soon awarded their own penalty only for Rubio’s kick to go narrowly wide.

KCS won a lineout 30m from the Farnham line after a massive, wind-assisted clearance kick. Ball off the top from their middle jumper and a fast pass wide presented their full back with the overlap and the first try was scored. Duly converted, KCS took lead by 10-0.

The challenge was on. Both sides played at a relentless pace. The Farnham forwards lead by strong drives from Trodden and Crabb forced the play back up field where Farnham took their first chance to cross the KCS line. Rubio kicked a penalty to the corner and from the lineout the ball was spun to the left where Chas Penn ran in unopposed. Rubio struck a fine kick for the conversion to bring Farnham back to within 3 points.

Farnham maintained the pressure and KCS were penalised at the base of a ruck. This was their fourth such offence in quick succession and the referee had no alternative but to send the offending flanker to the bin. From the resulting tap penalty, Farnham No 8 Pete Daly drove for the line. The ball was released quickly from the ruck to Salmon and on through Jennings to Corlett who ran in the try. The conversion attempt came back of the post. Farnham went in at half time with a narrow but deserved lead of 12-10.

As the second half began, Farnham was immediately disrupted by injuries. Winger Chas Penn pulled a leg muscle and was replaced by Andy Freshwater. Centre Mike Salmon then injured his back in the tackle and utility man Fran Meagher came on to the wing from where Weeks moved to the centre. These unplanned changes were compounded when flanker Andrew Bond was sin binned.

However, this is a strong and confident squad of players and their spirit did not waver. Another good run from Hills linking with Freshwater took Farnham back into the KCS twenty two. And while the game was tight and moved from end to end, the Farnham faithful began to sense it would be their day.
The return of Bond after his ten minutes “rest” saw Farnham win yet another penalty at the breakdown, this time in front of KCS’ posts. Rubio made sure of the kick and Farnham’s lead now stretched to 15-10. With only a converted try needed to turn the game on its head, KCS threw themselves into a battle that Farnham eagerly contested. But with the lead and the wind at their backs, Farnham now started to dominate both possession and territory.

Farnham hooker Morgan Rushton retired injured from the fray after a sterling game up front in the tight with props Trodden and Jennings. All three had a good game. Dan Ross came on as his replacement and the Farnham forwards continued to rumble on. The pressure began to tell on KCS who were forced to concede another penalty. From 30 metres out Rubio took the score to 18-10 so KCS now had to score twice to regain the lead. This prompted the KCS scrum-half and outside centre to keep ball in hand and make direct inroads into the Farnham defence who responded with good line-speed and out-to-in blitz defence marking.

From one such turnover Jason Crabb, who enjoyed another outstanding performance, surged up field, offloaded to back row colleague Buster Bond who after gaining important yards released the rampaging Pete Daly who crashed over in the corner. The back row triumvirate had completed the victory and as the conversion drifted wide the referee brought proceedings to a close to a resounding cheer from the packed balcony.

This hard fought contest had kept the Farnham faithful and a sizeable contingent of visitors enthralled to the final whistle. It stood testament to a brand of rugby consistently coached and encouraged over the years at every level in the club from Under 6 to Vets - fast, skilful, physical yet enjoyable for the connoisseur.

The huge crowd clapped both teams off the pitch long and hard after this memorable game. The win leaves Farnham 8 points clear at the top of the league.

The Presidents Podium points were awarded to Peter Daley (3), Ben Rubio (2) and Jason Crabb (1).