Farnham Rugby U15 team launched their league season with some great rugby, an exciting game, but a disappointing loss to the visitors Wimbledon (10-15).  

Wimbledon kicked off and made the most of a stiff breeze blowing down the ground.  After 15 minutes of hotly contested mauling, their backs broke loose to score a try in the corner.  Farnham came back with good passing and powerful running from wings Chris Thorne and Dan Lawrence to get Farnham within range for Michael Salmon to convert a penalty.  As the first half came to a close, Wimbledon paid Farnham’s tenacious tacklers the compliment of opting to kick for goal when awarded a penalty just 8 yards from the Farnham line.

In the second half, Farnham had the wind at their backs. Following a clearance kick from Hector Hoyte Bone that Jonny Wilkinson would have been proud of, hooker Ed Weeks won a 5 meters scrum against the head.  Dan Kirkbride, running strong at No 8 all match, picked up from the base and charged the line.  Skipper Joe Curran wrestled the ball from the resulting maul and plunged over to score under the posts.  Salmon converted the try for Farnham to take the lead 10-8.

Wimbledon’s powerful forward “engine room” which had threatened all match now came into its own. Successive turnovers in the set scrum and mauls pushed Farnham back to their line. After a full five minutes of ferocious tackling and bodies literally “on-the-line”, Wimbledon eventually scored under the posts.  Farnham were not daunted and the final whistle blew as they once again threatened the Wimbledon line.

This performance against one of the fancied teams from the league has given Farnham U15s a useful platform for the season ahead.