The 1967 classic war film The Dirty Dozen tells the tale of a group of men sent on a seemingly impossible mission. On Thursday night, Farnham’s Under-23s embodied that very spirit in an epic encounter at Reeds Weybridge.

Pre-Match Atmosphere
On arrival at Reeds, Farnham’s squad of 12 faced an opposition of 26—a group so imposing they seemed capable of cracking walnuts with their biceps. Farnham, undeterred, focused on emergency lineout drills and backline run-throughs before retreating to the clubhouse to devise a cunning plan.
A large crowd gathered, anticipating a comfortable victory for the home side. As the referee blew the whistle, a sense of inevitability seemed to hang over the fixture.

First Half: Defying the Odds
Playing uphill, Farnham received the kick-off and settled their nerves with composed phases. A smart exit from their own 22 gave skipper Oli KP the chance to test the lineout, connecting with Fin Healy and Rhys Evans to secure possession. This provided the opportunity for the flying backline to stretch their legs. Jasper Henderson orchestrated play from fly-half with precision, while Jake Harris delivered a commanding presence, constantly threatening from the set-piece. The scrum, though not always in parity, grew stronger as the game wore on, with the scratch front-row lasting the full duration.
Within 10 minutes, Farnham silenced the home crowd with an impressive forward drive culminating in a try. The early lead seemed to provoke Reeds, who attacked with vigour, but Farnham’s defence held firm. Harris operated as a hybrid scrum-half and back-rower, while Noah Scudamore stepped into the pack with determination. Farnham grew increasingly confident, thwarting Reeds’ attempts to exploit space out wide. However, disaster struck when Fin Healy, a dominant force up front, sustained an ankle injury. In the spirit of the game, Reeds provided a substitute, allowing the contest to continue on equal terms.
Goldsworth was a constant menace on the flank, brushing off tacklers with ease. The Farnham centres also played a key role, penetrating in attack and stifling Reeds’ momentum in defence. Though the hosts managed to pull one try back, Farnham ended the half narrowly ahead.
Half-Time Score: Farnham 10 – 5 Reeds

Second Half: Battling Downhill
The half-time team talk focused on utilising the slope and allowing the ball to do the work. Harris’s pinpoint tactical kicking consistently pinned Reeds deep in their own half, frustrating the opposition’s attempts to build momentum.
Despite Reeds’ numerical advantage and superior fitness, Farnham refused to yield. Moving the ball wide, the visitors scored a superb second try, extending their lead to 15-5. The Reeds fly-half continued to orchestrate their attack, but Farnham’s disciplined drift defence held strong, using the touchline as an extra defender. In the closing moments, Reeds finally broke through to score a try on the last play of the game. However, their effort was too late to overturn the result. Farnham’s warriors, exhausted but jubilant, secured a memorable victory.
Full-Time Score: Farnham 15 – 10 Reeds

Post-Match Reflections
The victory was met with warm congratulations from the gracious Reeds hosts. Farnham’s Under-23 “Dirty Dozen” had pulled off an improbable triumph, showcasing grit, skill, and unity. The team, now battle-hardened, looks forward to their next challenge at home on Sunday 29th December.