Farnham put Salisbury to the sword

Match report by Toby Salmon embellished to the style of one sadly missed and who would have adored every second of the game.

Farnham welcomed Salisbury to Monkton Lane for their first ever fixture on a cold and overcast winter’s afternoon. There were a couple of changes to the young side that had acquitted themselves so nobly down at Tottonians the week before. The wise head of Jules Joris returned at prop. Jack “Sting” Haylett started at open side and Jack Scullion, the Cornish trebuchet, made his 1st team comeback after three years away.
Farnham kicked off and immediately set out their dominant stall. A big carry from Harrison Horner – the first of many from this powerful lock forward - set the tone and put Farnham deep into the Salisbury 22. The ball was spilled moments later but the terrier-like Farnham back row regained possession. Proving there is more to his game than a siege gun boot, full back Scullion cruised through the defensive line and offloaded to flying winger Toby Simmons. He whistled down the line for Farnham’s first try. Nathan Phillimore had kicking duties for the day and notched the conversion to make it 7-0. The home crowd cheered and the last handful of the Faithful who had yet to rise from a fabulous lunch hurried onto the balcony.
Although they missed that early score, the late comers were soon entertained. Salisbury restarted with a kick deep into Farnham’s 22 and the welcome arms of Scullion. He ran it straight back, bustling through the tackles before showing real pace to round the fullback to score. As good a way as any to announce one’s return to the team! Phillimore was accurate from the tee once more 14-0.
On the back foot after two quick, early tries, Salisbury bounced back, got their hands on the ball and created a great try scoring opportunity. Centre Bond Carter sliced through the Farnham defence with scrum half Jacques Kinnison in support. However, with the try line begging, the final pass didn’t go to hand. Farnham cleared their lines, but the Salisbury winger sliced the return kick into the hands of Toby Simmonds who, with acres of open ground before him, needed no second invitation to skin three defenders and dot down for his 2nd try from 60 meters out. Phillimore was as good with his boot off the tee as he is with his bat off the square for Frensham CC. 21-0.
As can often happen when a team is dominant and running rampant, concentration falls. Farnham were guilty of repeated handling errors and the scoring rate slowed. Nevertheless, the game was played mostly in the Salisbury half. Eventually, a penalty gave Farnham the opportunity to set up a rolling maul but this and a series of close carries were halted by a determined Salisbury pack. Ollie Brown at fly half fizzed the ball wide to where Simmons was off his wing looking for work. He found fellow winger Nathan Phillimore who went over in the corner. A rare miss off the tee 26-0.
The Black and Whites were now getting into their groove. A training ground move off the line-out set up the next score with Simmons breaking down the blind side before finding Oscar Henderson inside him. Hendersen barrelled over the Salisbury full back and scored in the corner. 31-0.
Farnham were camped in the Salisbury half for most of the first period. More destructive rampages by locks Horner and Lambert-Parsons put the Salisbury defence into disarray. When the ball was moved to space out wide, there was no one to stop Phillimore dotting down for his second. His boot had come off the boil and the conversion was missed, but Farnham trotted off for half time oranges 36-0 to the good.
Farnham looked to build off a positive first half with the fresh legs of Marco Azevedo at prop and Finlay Sloan into the back line. The packed balcony had little time to settle before the cheers and the applause rang out. Scrum half Harry West broke the line to get into the Salisbury 22. Farnham’s mobile and aggressive pack was quick to recycle the ball which was spun down the line to Scullion out wide. He scored in the corner. Phillimore’s touch returned and the conversion from the touchline was good, 43-0.
To their inestimable credit, Salisbury did not lie down. On the contrary, led by their charging No 8 James Kennedy, they strung numerous phases together that tested the Farnham “D”. Such was the test that Farnham edged once to often on the side of illegality. After a string of penalties, the referee lost his patience and Marco Azevedo was given 10 minutes in the bin. Salisbury were quick to make the man advantage pay. Lock Mike Porter tapped and surged for the line giving Salisbury their first try. Conversion was good, 43-7.
Any thoughts of a Salisbury come back were soon dispelled. Almost from the restart, Ollie Brown broke through, offloaded to Fin Sloan who drew the last man to put Scullion in for his hattrick. Conversion successful again, 50-7.
Farnham were now rampant and looked to finish off the game on style. The next score came from open play where slick hands among the backs put Oscar Henderson into space. He had the gas to outpace the defence and score wide on the right. Phillimore’s boot was now metronomic. 57-7.
A mist now descended, perhaps to spare the loyal, positive, and sportsmanlike traveling support more agonies. It was not to be as Farnham now showed a ruthless streak. That man Simmons once again scorched out of the Farnham 22. Fellow wing Phillimore was in support and with an undefended line before him forsook the chance of his hattrick to pop to the ball to Sloan for his debut score for the 1st XV. Phillimore was not missing from in front. 64-7.
Farnham saved their best for last. Reminiscent of scene from a fantasy movie, Harrison Horner monstered his way forward casting Salisbury defenders hither and yon before off-loading to a charging Oscar Henderson. He was tackled but offloaded brilliantly off the deck into the hands of a rampaging Jemi Akin-Olugbade. The veteran charged into the corner to finish the game in style and to the loudest cheer of a cheer laden afternoon for the Faithful. 69-7.
“This was a convincing bonus point win for Farnham who dominated the game from the first minute,” commented injured skipper Toby Salmon. “It was just reward for lots of hard work on the training ground and showcased the talent we have. But we cannot afford to be complacent. A tough away trip to Winchester awaits next week. They sit third in the table and to come away with that scalp will be a real achievement.”
Podium: Harrison Horner- 3, Jack Scullion- 2, Marcus Lambert-Parsons- 1