“God save the King!” sung at the pre-match lunch, a minute’s silence in honour of our beloved Queen observed then Farnham RUFC and Guildford Rugby continued their close rivalry in earnest. Last season’s two encounters saw Farnham nudge the aggregate points score by two points in a close win that followed the earlier tied game. Farnham retained the bragging rights on Saturday with a 30-23 victory, but in reality, the game could have gone either way.
It was a perfect day for rugby – dry, mild – if not warm - with the going good-to-firm after the recent rains. Monkton Lane looked a picture as lush green pitches accommodated both this game and a non-league fixture between the 3rd XV and Hook and Odiham RFC. However, the rugby, at least some of it, was less than perfect and it took every ounce of the new skipper Toby Salmon’s skill and energy to drive his team over the line on what was to prove a long afternoon.
Within the first eight minutes Farnham were down 10 points. On two minutes, the Guildford fly half Sam Druce hoofed the ball into the Farnham 22 to gain early territory. Perhaps enticed by a dry ball and a perfect surface, the receiving Farnham backs flung the ball about and tried to run it out. But they were pinned under their own posts and coughed up the penalty which Druce gratefully converted. The speed of both sets of backs on the chase or in defence was a feature of this game.
From the restart Farnham battled back and earned their own penalty that Toby Salmon speared to the corner. However, the throw in went awry and the speedy and direct running Guildford backs seized their chance to burst out through the Farnham backs who were aligned for attack not defence. The ball dotted down under the posts by No 11 Nicholas Street and easy extras for Druce. 0-10.
Farnham got straight back into the game. The high-speed chase from the restart forced a Guildford knock on and Farnham dominated at the scrum. The front row of Sam Woodhams, Jules Joris and Marco Azevedo, powered on by Tom Dullage and Fin Andersen in the row earned Salmon T a shot at goal some distance out. Nevertheless he converted with aplomb. Toby’s goal kicking was immaculate all afternoon. 3-10 after just ten minutes.
Guildford’s restart did not go 10 meters and Farnham were back on the attack. The forwards, notably Azevedo, Woodhams and the mercurial flanker Jonny Vincent, batter at the defence. When the backs got ball, the distribution was accurate out to flying winger Max Williams – a constant threat. During this period of sparring Farnham’s No 8 Dan Aldwinkle pulled a hamstring bringing on Ben Brown to earn his 50th cap for the club. He went to the flank while Toby Comley took to No 8.
However, the Guildford defence was up for the challenge. Williams was a marked man and when Guildford full-back Alex Jordan and winger Charlie Cutting went for him with a double hit, an unlucky clash of heads left Cutting prostrate with a neck injury. The on-field medics adopted the protocol that wisely dictates a player with a neck or back injury should only be moved by professional paramedics. As the wait for the ambulance began, the game was moved to pitch two from where the 3rd XV gave way to play on pitch three. All at Farnham wish Charlie a full and speedy recovery.
After a forty-minute delay, battle recommenced.
The game restarted with a Farnham scrum from which the penalty puts Farnham into the Guildford half. The line-out was scrappy but Farnham’s No 10 Ben Jones secured the ball, popped it to scrum half Ollie Brown who darted through the first line of defence and released Toby Salmon who stepped and sped to the line under the posts. He made good the simple conversion. 10-10 on 25 minutes.
Further sparring and the Farnham scrum dominance allows the home side to march up the field, but then, similar to the earlier score, a misjudged pass was snaffled by the Guildford backs who had the pace and guile to punish. Another score under the posts, easy conversion and the visitors were back in the lead 10-17.
More end-to-end sparring ensued with the speed, vigour and canniness of both team’s defence holding sway. Guildford’s scrum half took a quick tap penalty only for his dash to the line to be impeded by a “lazy” line run by Jules Joris. The ref, rightly, decided it was cynical and gave the Farnham prop ten minutes in the bin.
Down to fourteen men, Farnham fought back from their line with a sequence of phases combining forward power and back line pace that caught the Guildford defence off-side. Toby Salmon calls for the kicking tee and his unerring boot takes the score to 13-17 and the half time whistle.
The second half started pretty much as the first with the ball bouncing around the Farnham 22 and the backs deciding the fling it about. Again they were pinned in front of their posts and again Druce is happy to take the three points. 13-20. Toby Salmon replied in kind from the restart as Guildford infringed at the break down. 16-20. Five minutes into the second half and the “ping pong” continued.
The Guildford pack hitherto quiet, now gained supremacy especially in the tight, however the ref spotted some front row skulduggery and awarded Farnham a penalty. The Farnham line out remains uncertain in early season, and this was no exception. But the Farnham defenders are up sharply and dislodge the ball and Toby Salmon - who else - is there to scoop up the loose ball, split the Guildford defence and put Max Williams away to score under the posts. An easy conversion for Salmon and Farnham have the lead for the first time in the match 23-20.
The play reverts to a scrap dominated by defences until once again Guildford were caught off-side allowing T. Salmon to find touch on the Guildford 22 and then for his team to put in its best period of play. Lined out secured, driving mall made ground, forwards go round the edge to pound the line, held but the ball zipped out by Brown to Jones who popped to Mike Salmon to crash over from full back. Brother Toby secured the extras and at 30-20 there’s some breathing space.
Guildford are a proud rugby outfit and with the clock ticking down mounted attack after attack through their now dominant pack. They repeatedly decided to take a scrum penalty in the Farnham 22 as the Farnham pack folded, but the Black and Whites held out - often with the ball in Guildford possession inches from the line. Eventually, with seconds to go, Guildford decided to take the three points and a well-earned loosing bonus point.
There is little between these sides, and the return fixture at Broadwater in December will doubtless be a thriller too. Meanwhile Farnham’s preparation this week will be focused on next Saturday’s trip to Chichester where they hope to make amends for one of their poorest performances of last season.
Podium: Jonny Vincent 3, Toby Salmon 2, Marco Azevedo 1