Farnham Rugby Club hosted four teams on Saturday on a busy club day the highlight of which was the unveiling of a portrait of our much-missed Club President Geoff Bond set above a plaque featuring the badges of the many clubs he played for.
The 4th XV were just the wrong side of an 80 point try-fest against Andover while the Vets, 2nd XV and 1st XV played a large contingent down from Battersea Ironsides. The clubhouse was hectic after the games as many stayed to enjoy watching Quins win an entertaining match at HQ. While the club was the financial winner, on the pitch it was a different story.
Props Jemi Akin-Olugbade and Sam Woodhams had travelled up that morning from Dorset where their children – and some five hundred of their friends – were enjoying the Mini Section’s annual tour. This allowed the 1st XV to put out a team unchanged from last week’s narrow win at Reeds save for Harry West at scrum half for the absent Brown and utility back Jarred Cooper up from the 2nd XV for his seventh 1st team game.
A firm surface, a slight but chilly northerly breeze and the scene was set for the speedsters. Ironsides kicked off with the breeze at their back. After five minutes of the opening sparring and after flanker Toby Comley had won a brilliant turnover, Farnham were on the attack when winger Max Williams spilled the pass. Ironsides seized the opportunity in broken play to spin the ball from right to left and release their left wing. His chip over the top bounced kindly into the arms of No 10 Cam Baker who popped the ball inside for the winger – also named Williams - to score in front of the posts. The conversion was simple. 0-7.
Ironsides cleared from the restart into the arms of Toby Salmon who hoofed the ball back and chased hard. Unfortunately, he picked up an injury to his arm in the resulting collision and had to leave the field. Chalker came on to the wing with Stennett shuffled into the centres. Ben Adams picked up the mantle of skipper.
In Ironsides next attack, Stennett put in yet another of his trademark try-saving cover tackles, but at the ensuing five metre scrum, Ironsides pick and go and their sizeable and dynamic No 8 powered over in front. 0-14 on 15 minutes.
Farnham struck back from the restart. The Ironsides catcher set off to return the ball in hand but the referee spotted obstruction of the Farnham chasers and awarded the home side the penalty. Farnes to the corner and the catch and drive was executed to perfection with Toby Comley powering over ably assisted by the bulk of Harrison Horner. Horner had a good game, punching holes in mid field and halting powerful runners on more than one occasion. Tim Salmon stepped up to convert in the absence of his brother and made an excellent job of it from out wide and into the breeze. 7-14 on 17 minutes.
The match ebbed and flowed for the next quarter on an hour. Ironsides big runners led by No 8 Tom Jeffs made inroads only to be rebuffed by the Farnham D. Ben Brown at hooker made more than his fair share of tackles and Mike Salmon stood tall and firm when he collected a high ball and the chaser crashed into him only to slump the floor. The Farnham backs threatened and in one brilliant training ground move off the back of the scrum, released Farnes up the blind side only for his chip forward to find touch.
However, Farnham’s attacks were failing too often with the ball knocked on or spilled. From their scrum on the Farnham 10-meter line, Ironsides launched another blistering attack requiring another try-saver by Stennett to halt their progress. However, the ball was quickly recycled left to right where Baker made ground and popped a classy off load to Waters on the right wing who went over out wide. Conversion missed, 7-19 as the clock wound down to half time.
Farnham won their restart and kept the pressure on Ironsides. Good interplay between forwards Olugbade and Woodhams – on for Horner in the row – sent Tim Salmon down the flank and he dabbed the ball into touch well inside Ironsides 22. Farnham disrupted their line out and put in a strong series of phases through the forwards. The ball released to the backs, Mike Salmon sent a long looping pass to brother Tim that cut out two Ironsides defenders. He made the most of the space and bustled up the five-meter channel shrugging off the attentions of the cover defence to power over out wide. One of the tries of the season! Another good conversion by Tim from a spot similar to his first, and the half time whistle blew. 14-19 and all to play for.
Farnham followed up their restart well and pinned Ironsides into their half where they conceded a penalty in front and Tim Salmon stepped up the take the points 17-19.
Another ten minutes of fast paced action which were, somewhat ominously, highlighted by quality defensive efforts particularly from Farnham’s Williams and Chalker on the wings. Eventually, with a penalty advantage, Ironsides put in a prolonged period of possession and with the phases sucking in the Black and White defence, Williams through again and scored under the posts. Perhaps too casual in the attempt, the conversion was missed. 17-24.
Ironsides had their collective tails up now and seemed able to break the Farnham line at will. Farnham’s scramble defence held but in the pandemonium the ref adjudged Marco Azevedo to have done something particularly heinous and sent him to the bin. Eager to widen the gap, Ironsides took the points on offer. 17-27 and two scores now separated the sides.
The influential Mike Salmon came off with a gash to the head and Cooper filled the slot at full back. More desperate defence from Farnham saw them dive over the ruck in front of the posts. Another easy three points for Ironsides 17-30 and with but a few minutes left, the game was done – almost.
With Azevedo back on and a full fifteen on the pitch, Farnham needed to get something from the game – even if it was only a try bonus point – and threw everything into attack. This was their undoing and was to produce a final score that belied the competitive nature of the match. Twice promising attacks by Farnham came unstuck and twice Ironsides runners were granted open space between the breakdown and the Farnham line. Both tries were unconverted. Final score 17-40 and once again, Ironsides proved to be the Black and White’s bogey team.
Next Saturday Farnham make the trip to Old Reigatians. KO 3.00pm. With any realistic chance of league honours behind them after a long, tough campaign, the team will be playing for pride and to secure second place – the highest league position in the club’s history.
Podium points: Tim Salmon 3, Mike Salmon 2, Ben Brown 1.