This game completed proceedings from last month which were brought to an untimely conclusion by an injury to the referee. And this was almost a carbon copy of the initial incomplete encounter. Farnham under the cosh for 60 minutes at which time home side Old Reigations (OR) ran out of puff and Farnham rediscovered their running game and the ability to keep possession.

But too little too late, a rushed shot at the conversion and the bonus point and even a potential narrow victory slipped from Farnham’s grasp.

Old Reigations kicked off with a stiff northerly breeze at their back. The pitch was dry and firm and over looked by a club house wrapped in polythene but recovering well from an arson attack.

A knock-on from Farnham and the ensuing scrum was dominated by OR who continued to do so for the rest of the game. Desperate defence from Farnham resulted in a penalty to OR. The shot at goal was missed but on receiving the ball from the 22 drop out, OR put in a couple of quick phases and punched down the short side to go over. The conversion well taken and Farnham were down 7-0 after 13 minutes.

Cut and thrust ensued. Mostly cut as Farnham rarely had the ball and when they did have it, the pressure from OR meant a clearing kick was the only option. Given the wind, those kicks inevitably fell into the hands of an OR player who ran it back to keep the pressure on.
To their credit and as a unit, Farnham responded by tackling like lions for a full 20 minutes. And this unit looked markedly different from that which pinched the win over Winchester last week with the likes the stalwart Lennie Jennings returning to the front row after injury and Craig Macey – a faithful servant of the club from his Junior days – making his debut in the row. There was a familiar look to the backs with the return of Chris Penn at fly-half and Ollie Brown at No 9.

Then a thrust! A rare, but lively attack by Farnham unleashed their man of the match, Tom O’Conner to make a rare excursion into the OR half. Isolated, he could only give away the penalty. The accomplished, breeze-assisted boot of the OR No 10 sent the ball spiralling into the corner. Farnham had little answer to the catch and drive from the OR lineout five meters out. The try was converted. 14-0 with a few minutes of the half to play and coach Gary Stennet introduced the not inconsiderable might and fury of Martin Dedman to the fray.
The second half opened and despite the wind at their backs Farnham continued to concede territory. A desperate attempt by Mike Salmon - at centre and skipper for the day - to take man and ball was judged, rightly, a high tackle and OR took the points from the penalty kick. 17-0 and OR looked to break clear.

In the play immediately following the restart, OR strayed off side and Chris Penn used the breeze to pin the ball into the corner. At a scrappy lineout OR knocked on. At the ensuing scrum, Farnham won the put in but, as throughout the game, its scrum creaked and started to retreat. However possession was secured – not for the first nor the last time - by the considerable skill of Reece De Gruchy at No 8. Spun quickly wide the Farnham backs rounded the scramble defence for Tom Martin to cross the line out wide. Chris Penn’s conversion attempt from the touch line hit the post. 17-5 after 10 minutes of the second half.
OR respond quickly from the kick off and under pressure, its Farnham’s turn to stray off side in the shadow of their posts. The penalty duly converted and its 20-5.

Another ten minutes of cut and thrust. Again mostly cut with the odd thrust from Farnham, notably a clean break from De Gruchy who had an all-round good game. Eventually the OR pressure told. A classic backs move off the top of the line out resulted in multiple phases that were manfully repulsed – until the penalty was conceded and the ball punched into touch on the Farnham 5 metre line. From the line out, the OR maul powered over the line. 25-5 and 14 minutes left, the game seemed over.

But then the match turned on its head. OR ball spilled midfield was seized upon and slick hands saw the indomitable Jemi Akin-Olugbade burst through to score under the post. Sensing OR were on the rack and anxious to get on with things, Chris Penn snatched at the conversion with an attempted drop goal. Nevertheless, 25-10 and Farnham had a sniff.

From the first break down after the restart De Gruchy once again broke free. The tiring OR defence bought Salmon’s dummy pass to no one in particular and with quick hands from the break down, the ball was spun out to who else but De Gruchy lurking on the far wing to go in unopposed. Penn took his time with the conversion. 25-17.

The final minutes of this pulsating quarter saw Farnham retain possession through at least a dozen phases, creeping forward and sucking in the defence. Eventually the backs release. Akin-Olugbade makes the break, but the OR defence bundle the Farnham attacker into touch. Game over.

Season over? Much of this season has been a case of “almost”. With three games left – particularly next week’s relegation battle with Portsmouth - its crunch time now. “Almost” has to become “certainty” if Farnham are to keep their place in this league.

Presidents Podium judged by the author, the Chairman and various Frosts:
3, Tom O’Conner – great yards, great tackles, punching way over his diminutive size.
2, Reece De Gruchy – controlled the base of the scrum under pressure and make a real impact in open play
1, Martin Dedman – made the opposition uncomfortable from the moment he came on.