Consistent bonus points

Report by Toby Salmon and Mark Weeks
If the RFU Regional 2 South Central league was measured by bonus points, Farnham would be clear leaders on 11 points with their nearest rival trailing with eight. However, the Black and Whites sit mid-table with just two wins from their seven games to date. The accumulation of bonus points proves the Farnham boys have the firepower to score tries and the determination to keep scrapping. However, the errors also keep coming which makes that winning habit hard to find. Saturday’s match at Wimborne was no exception.
Farnham travelled down to Dorset looking to build off last week’s win against Reading. A few changes to the Farnham team saw academy graduate Dan Sweeney earn his first start and an unfortunate injury in the warm-up to Dan Sullivan saw the backline rejigged to have Harry West on the wing.
Wimborne kicked off with the wind at their backs. Both teams traded early attacking sets but lacked the accuracy to score. On about ten minutes, Farnham earned a penalty on half-way and kicked to the corner. Wimborne collapsed the first maul and Farnham went for the corner again. This maul was set up well with Finn Basil at the back who powered over in the corner for his first score of the season. Conversion unsuccessful but Farnham had the lead.
The Farnham Faithful which - to confirm the youthful nature of the side - included a number of player’s Dads, felt confident of another Farnham try-fest reminiscent of the Newbury game. However, it was not to be.
Farnham’s lead was short lived as they failed to clear their lines at the restart and Wimborne applied maul pressure of their own. Their large, experienced pack got to work and powered over for their own try to make it 5-5 with 15 minutes gone.
Farnham responded well and gained good field position in Wimborne’s half. Hard carries in mid-field from Archie Cleeve and Toby Salmon put Farnham on the front foot. The ball was moved to Ben Jones who fizzed a flat miss-pass to Toby Simmons who finished will in the corner. Farnham back in the lead 10-5.
However, this lead did not last long. A mixture of ill-discipline and errors got Wimborne back into the game. By not committing enough bodies to the ruck, Farnham allowed the agile Wimborne backrow to get their hands on the ball and a line break from the Wimborne No 13 - one of two hefty centres - was finished off well to level the scores at 10-10. More penalties allowed Wimborne to kick to the corner and a well-executed training ground move between backs and forwards saw them to score in the corner. Luckily for Farnham their conversions continued to go wide, 15-10.
Farnham could not get their hands on the ball to halt the momentum. Moments later, Wimborne were in again as a neat offload from the juggernaut inside centre saw Wimborne’s full back stroll in under the posts. 22-10 at half time with Farnham needing a reset. By all accounts, the coaching staff did not mince their words!
Matt Chapman came on in the row with Harry West moving to scrum half with Ollie Brown out to flyhalf. Farnham needed a response and managed to get their hands on the ball and kicked in behind to pin Wimborne on their own line. However, Wimborne’s inside centre – a genuine game changer for the home side - picked from the base and shrugged off four Farnham tackles to breakaway. He offloaded to oncoming support. The Farnham defence couldn’t scramble back. The try was finished in the corner. 27-10.
This was a soft try for Farnham to concede and a response was required! This came in the form of a a well worked backs’ move from a set scrum. The ball was spun wide with Nathan Phillimore drawing the last man for Toby Simmons to finish off in the corner. 27-15.
Farnham gained some momentum with damaging carries from Jonny Vincent and Marco Azevedo making their usual yards. Harry West and Ollie Brown controlled some slick multiphase attacks which eventually led to Nathan Phillimore stepping inside to score in the right corner. The difficult conversion was successful and at 27–22 Farnham were back in the game.
But, again, the simple stuff let Farnham down as again they failed to clear their lines from the kick off. A lose pass, a knock on and Wimborne had a scrum in prime position. A well worked backs’ move saw their blindside winger slice through the defence. Another missed kick but the score now 32-22. A two-score gap and but 10 minutes left on the clock. Farnham had to get their hands on the ball.
Wimborne’s rumbustious inside centre was shown a yellow card following the restart, but it took eight minutes for Farnham to make the advantage pay against resolute defence. Jonny Vincent sliced through a gap and powered over next to the posts to give Farnham a chance. The drop goal conversion was good and there was one score in it with one minute to go.
Farnham returned the restart with pace and venom and earned a penalty in kickable range. The draw was on, but to the cries of “Go for it!” from the coaching staff, the ball was kicked to the corner. The maul was set but held. The forwards made several hard carries but then the canny Wimborne defence allowed the Farnham runner to take just a few steps beyond his support and their bulky inside centre, just back on the field from his card, was over the ball for the match winning turnover.
“This was another disappointing day out for Farnham who made too many errors and despite a much better second half, we left ourselves too much to do,” said skipper Toby Salmon. “We have a week’s break for the World Cup Final and will be working hard on the training paddock before a tough away trip to Tottonians.”
President’s Podium voted for by the players, Archie Cleeve – 3, Finn Basil – 2, Toby Salmon – 1