Farnham u18s take the win in the National Cup First Round against local rivals

Still only a few games into the new season, and with 2 year groups coming together, the rugby was perhaps understandably not the prettiest but the effort from all on deck not to be faulted.

In H1, with the wind at our backs, we failed to convert a couple of early opportunities ball in hand, then having to rely on a couple of penalties to sneak ahead. Alas a defensive lapse in the middle of the pitch then saw the Guildford No 10 stroll in under the posts before we rallied to take an opportunity of our own with a nice long left hander to space finished out wide. A further score followed and we turned around 16-7 ahead at the break - now tasked with playing into the 2 score wind.

In H2, bar 2 minutes of phase play, we hung on, put in a committed defensive display, and got away with the odd moment of madness under our posts. In our scrambling and Guildford’s own limitations through the midfield we made our own luck and took home the result.

Both sides will head to training with lots to work on - for us at Farnham that work off the ball is ever crucial where today we were guilty of a lack of discipline and fitness in our speed to set and failing to offer depth and quality lines to beat an equally committed defence. But that gives us something to work on and today the lads should rightly enjoy a well earned win.