Farnham travelled to Bracknell on Saturday afternoon for a mid-table clash. Farnham ran out winners on the return fixture so knew the home side would be looking for revenge. Farnham welcomed back Jack Bemelmans from university as well as Benjy Biggs who was enjoying a great first year at Newcastle. Jonny Vincent shifted to 8 in place of the injured Oscar Henderson. The home side kicked off playing down the slope and applied the early pressure.

Farnham had to defend hard against a powerful Bracknell team that possessed size in the pack and on both wings. However, Farnham were fronting up well and cleared their lines through the powerful boot of Ieuan Finey-Jones. Farnham managed to get their hands on the ball and Toby Simmons made a good break down the right hand side and got Farnham into the 22. The ball was turned over moments later but Farnham were starting to show their skills. The scrum was evenly contested however the lineout was favouring the home team. On 20 minutes Farnham had a chance to get the first points of the game but the penalty was missed. However, minutes later, Farnham were playing with penalty advantage and moved the ball wide to Toby Salmon who half broke through, offloaded to Jonny Vincent who shrugged off 2 tackles and dotted down under the posts for the first score. Conversion successful, 0-7.

Farnham were managing the game well and would have been happy with the first 30 minutes have gone. They had field position yet again but penalties started to cost them. A penalty in front of the posts gave the hosts a chance to reduce the lead which they did, 3-7. Consecutive penalties cost Farnham again as Bracknell kicked into the 22. They started making inroads and a miss pass cut out the Farnham defence and the left winger finished off well in the corner. Conversion missed, 8-7. Half time shortly followed, and Farnham were disappointed to go in behind with discipline proving costly.

The 2nd half kicked off and the game was finely in the balance. Farnham kept kicking well and their defence was looking solid. A scrum penalty allowed them to kick to the corner but the maul on this occasion didn't quite work and Bracknell turned the ball over. However, minutes later, Farnham won a penalty on the 22 and Toby Salmon opted for the posts and Farnham regained the lead. 8-10. Minutes later, a penalty in the same position gave Farnham a chance to extend their lead which they did. 7-13. Marco Azevedo and Benjy Biggs came on the in the pack with Joey Wood also coming on to replace Joe Wigmore.

The home team kept carrying hard with the Farnham defence staying strong although the penalty count continued to rise. Bracknell did eventually break through, again through their left winger who dotted down in the corner and the successful conversion made it 14-13 with 10 minutes to play. Farnham were then reduced to 14 men when George Bellamy was penalised for a deliberate knock down. Although a lineout steal gave Farnham the ball back and they got back into the Bracknell 22. They were patient and were awarded a simple penalty which Toby Salmon knocked over to give Farnham the lead with 5 minutes to go. 14-16. Farnham had to hang on but the home team continued to fight back. A dangerous cleanout was missed on Greg Franzel and the following phase, Bracknell were awarded a penalty in front of the posts to win the game. The Bracknell fly half held his nerve and the game finished 17-16.

A brutal loss for Farnham who fought hard but discipline cost them in the end. They will look to bounce back against local rivals Camberley this weekend and will be looking for a sizeable crowd in for this massive fixture.

Presidents podium:
3- Jonny Vincent
2- Ieuan Finey-Jones
1- Shawa Rai