Farnham maintain momentum to crush spirited New Milton

After the delights of last week's Six Nations finale, the Farnham crowd were looking for more thrills and they were not disappointed with a tally for the match of 13 tries.
Coach Matt Kemp rang the changes in various positions. The new formation had speedster full back Gabe Hills swap positions with last week’s fly half Andy Freshwater. With Mike Salmon and Ed Weeks at centre, wingers Chas Penn and skipper Toby Comley completed a quartet of sheer pace that was to be the attacking weapon behind a powerful pack. Here too there were changes. Pete Daly joined Franklin in the second row with Simmons on the bench. Bond, Crabb and Meagher formed the breakaway unit. Trodden, Chiverton and Kelleher set the scrum in the front row with Ben Rubio at scrum half pulling the strings.
Farnham had fought a battle in October’s away encounter and New Milton began with the same intensity. The early sparring saw forceful surges from Crabb and Bond with the Colossus that is Pete Daly leading the charge. With 14 minutes gone, Farnham broke the deadlock with an unstoppable driving maul from which Crabb emerged the scorer. Rubio pulled the conversion well wide. Blustery conditions made it almost impossible for both kickers all afternoon.
The next try by Daly in the corner was the direct result of great support play from which Farnham has profited all season. The Farnham players now sunk their teeth into the match and it became increasingly painful for a fully committed and spirited New Milton side.
A superb thrust through the middle by Mike Salmon released Toby Comley to romp over in the corner to make it 17-0 after twenty minutes. From the kick off, Franklin won the ball in the air superbly to set up a feisty drive by the forwards who released the speed machine Gabe Hills for the first of his four tries. The bonus point was secured after just 21minutes.
Farnham had tweaked the lion's tail and back came New Milton with real intent. They were determined to impose themselves on the game and did so emphatically with two quick tries out wide. The game was reignited and momentum was temporarily with the Hampshire visitors. While there game may have lacked subtlety, they played with power around a burly pair of props backed by a wily, experienced No8 and two speedy flankers. Their tactic was to suck in the opposition with smash and bash and then release their backs. This one dimensional approach would prove their downfall as some of their decisions went awry. After 35 minutes Farnham shut the door on the game with Jason Crabb scoring again out wide to push the score to 27-10.
At half time both teams and a large crowd could take a breather.
Unusually Farnham had gone off the boil toward the end of the first half and allowed the opposition back into the game. After the break it was obvious that Coach Matt Kemp had reminded the team of their game plan. Freshwater was soon freed up to score and then in rapid succession both Salmon and Rubio crossed to increase the score to 44-10.
The swirling conditions made precise handling difficult but with the petit general Ben Rubio directing proceedings, Salmon was again through a gap to score under the posts. This was followed by another devastating, jinking sprint by Hills to score and Farnham were out of sight at 56-10.
Nevertheless, New Milton would not capitulate and kept on coming and they powered into the home 22 to score wide out. With such an indomitable spirit and attitude they are a credit to their club.
With dark clouds threatening heavy rain, Farnham ramped up the power as gaps appeared in New Milton’s doughty defence. Further tries for Hills (2), Daly and Salmon took the score to 73-15. Such was the pace of at which Farnham scored that it appears the officials missed a try and so the book shows a 68-15 win. To make mattes worse, the newly installed scoreboard blew a fuse in the frenzy of tries!
The referee called a halt to proceedings as the heavens opened and hail sheeted down. Both sides were roundly applauded off the field after yet another great showcase for amateur rugby.
Farnham’s impetus from their forwards was full capitalised by half backs Rubio and Hills. The pace of their service consistently put support players over and past the gain line setting up the rich haul of 13 tries scored right across the team. The only disappointing aspect was that the team failed to put Dean Chiverton over for his first try of the season. He deserves one. Work on it boys!!
President podium’s points went to Daly (3), Crabb (2) and Gabe Hills (1) who now as 24 first team tries for the season.