Hornets Regain Momentum Against Spirited Bec Side

Despite the recent weather, conditions for the game were surprisingly good and the Hornets took to the warm up with a steely determination to make amends for the loss suffered last week. However, the intensity quickly dissipated when Bec Old Boys arrived announcing they only had 13 players. Thankful for the game, the Hornets generously gave a player to make up numbers but with uncontested scrums the game had the potential to become a turgid encounter.

It was the visitors who struck first with barely a minute on the clock. Farnham had hardly touched the ball and found themselves facing a lineout on their own 22m. When the ball was passed out, the fly half struck a sweetly timed kick to bi-sect the posts. After such an opening, Becs were obviously buoyed and it took some last ditch defending to stop the visitors from increasing their tally. This was the wakeup call needed but it was a difficult first half for the Hornets to gain any fluidity, with a referee eager to exercise his authority being given every opportunity by the consistent infringement of the hosts. Farnham were however making inroads with the possession they had.

On an early foray into opposition territory, Farnham got the opening try of the game with a catch and drive from a lineout allowing Richard Phillips to fall over the line to score, Farnham had the lead at 5-3. Ten minutes later and Farnham were back in the opposition half, strong forward carries opened up the gaps and when Andy James carried to the line the tired defence couldn’t keep him out. James converted, 12-3. Farnhams big mistake this season has been relaxing too soon and once again it proved their undoing as Becs probed and eventually found space out wide for the wing to score in the corner pulling the score back to 14-8. There was time for Farnham to increase the lead before the half with a breakaway score from their own half. When the ball was fed out wide to Baines he carried before releasing Joe Major for a 50m run in around the defence, not bad for a flanker! 19-8 at half time.

The second half saw Farnham run away with the game with Bec Old Boys suffering a number of injuries to key players. With no substitutes, both sides were forced to reduce their numbers to comply with the laws but, to keep as many players on the field as possible, Farnham allowed another two players to join the Bec ranks. What ultimately followed was a one sided half where everything that could go right for Farnham did. Despite a slippery ball, both forwards and backs showed great patience and handling to run in (as one player put it) a “bazillion tries”, for normal people that’s five more tries.

Joe Major added to his first half try and a strong carry from Gareth Yeomans puts him on the scoreboard. The try of the game however was finished off by Mark Baines with a move started deep in Farnhams half. The ball was moved first left, then right, before quickly moving back left with strong carries and slick inter-passing between forwards and backs sending Walker clear with the supporting Baines back in the move to take the final pass and score. A worthy try for the first team pitch. There was still time for James to get his brace and for Rory Walker to cap an excellent performance with the final touchdown of the game.

A fantastic second half performance against a spirited Bec Old Boys saw Farnham eventually run out victorious at 48-8. Mentions should go to Mark Baines, who martialled the defence well from full back, and young Rory Walker (still an academy player) who was Farnhams man of the match playing the unfamiliar scrum half role. With next weeks fixture yet to be confirmed, the Hornets will hope to build on this performance ahead of the next league fixture away to Old Blues on the 23rd of November.

Written by Andy James.