Farnham slip up at Horsham.
After the opening successful salvo of four wins on the bounce, the 1st XV was brought back down to earth in no uncertain manner by a powerful and well drilled Horsham side. 43-0 the final score. With a “rest” weekend scheduled for Saturday 8th October - replaced by an “Oktoberfest” social at the clubhouse (open to all) – we know the black and whites will return to action at home against KCS Old Boys on the 15th with lessons learned and renewed vigour.
In a post-match analysis conducted by a handful of faithful followers, it was determined that none of the squad had a particularly bad game.
The podium point winners from the pack - Vincent and Henderson – played their usual, gnarly game with young Fin Anderson giving able support. When Rory McMichael came on at centre at half time, Farnham found some dangerous go forward. The Salmon brothers, Tim and Toby did well in midfield off relative scraps of possession. Toby was particularly effective kicking penalties out of hand. On the wings, Chalker made a couple of incisive runs while Stennett made the tackle of the match to halt what would have been yet another breakaway try. Nathan Phillimore at full back caught everything launched at him.
So where did it all go wrong? It is difficult for any side to get into a game when the ref awards nine penalties against them and none against the opposition in the first 22 minutes. Perhaps being shoved off the ball in the tight and bullied off the ball accounted for the imbalance. Within five minutes Horsham had a lineout five metres out and their powerful pack duly mauled the ball over the line. Five minutes later the performance is repeated at which time forwards coach James Chisholm implored his charges to sack the jumper. This was tried, but the ref determined the sack was illegal and Oscar Henderson was carded to go along with yet another penalty to Horsham.
When Farnham did get possession, they put in some eye catching phases but failed to make ground. In fact, Farnham did not get into the “red zone” in the entire first forty. Conversely, Horsham gave their electric backs an opportunity and slick handling released their dynamic No 11 to race in from 40 meters out. 17-0. With the ref now evening up the penalty count, Farnham did get into the Horsham half, but a pass was intercepted and but for valiant work by the cover defence, a breakaway try would have been scored. As the half drew to a close, after another raking penalty kick from Toby Salmon, Farnham set an attacking lineout on the Horsham 22 but a miscall saw the ball sail over the jumpers heads to be snaffled by the Horsham scrum half.
At half time, on the scoreboard at least, Farnham were not completely out of it at 17-0.
It perplexed the faithful that although Farnham looked more stable and threatening in the second half, the team managed to ship a further 28 points without scoring themselves. Perhaps it was that things seemed to be getting better that lead to the downfall. Twice more an intercepted pass allowed Horsham’s pacemen to burst out from their own 22 through a Farnham team lined up for attack to score under the posts. And Farnham still did not get the rub of the green from the ref. Toby Salmon was set for one of his searing runs from deep only to be brought down by a tackle that Vinnie Jones would have been proud of. No card shown.
Whatever their fortune, Farnham were beaten by the better side on the day. The fact was well illustrated by Horsham’s penultimate score brought about by a silky break through the 10 channel after some punishing drives from the forwards. With a two man overlap, the score was inevitable. However, there was more controversy for Horsham’s final score as a speculative kick bounced down the artificial surface into Farnham’s dead ball area. The footrace was even, but as defender and attacker both strived to dab the ball down, the ref adjudged the defender to have purposefully slapped the ball away and a penalty try was awarded.
Farnham did not surrender. From the restart and with seconds left in the game, the Farnham chasers harried the Horsham catcher, brought him to the ground and had hands on the ball! The ref sounded a shrill blast! Penalty to Horsham and soon after another blast announced the end of the game.
Podium Points: Jonny Vincent 3, Oscar Henderson 2, Rory McMichael 1