Farnham travelled to CS Stags for the penultimate round of the season. Both teams in the mid table battle and with nothing to play for, an entertaining game was expected. Farnham welcomed back Oscar Henderson to lead the pack and Jeff Leybourne came in at tighthead. His younger brother Mikey Leybourne was primed to make his debut off the bench.

Farnham kicked off but it was the home team that started the strongest. They dominated the early stages of possession and found space on the left to score in the corner. 5-0. Farnham struggled to get going as the windy conditions made the lineout very difficult. Stags extended their lead when a chip kick was regathered and some good offloading saw their centre run in under the posts. 12-0. Joey Wood made some hards to get an attack going but stags did well to hault any momentum. A clearing stags kick was charged down but the ball fortunately fell into their 13s hands and broke in behind, releasing the right winger who sprinted away and under the posts for a fortunate try. 19-0 after 20 minutes.

Farnham had to respond and did so when Toby Simmons picked up a loose ball, sprinted clear and stepped the cover defence to score Farnham’s first try. Conversion successful 19-7. Stags continued to kick with the wind and pinged Farnham back. A couple of breakdown penalties released the pressure. Farnham striked from a lineout play which saw Toby Salmon breakthrough, Joey Wood was on hand to support and sprinted in from 50 meters, just about fending off the covering defence to score in the corner. 19-12. The half time whistle shortly followed and Farnham recovered well to narrow the gap to 1 score.

Stags kicked off the 2nd half with the game finely in the balance. A 50-22 saw they gain a good attacking opportunity and their centre managed to go through under the posts for their bonus point score. 24-12. Farnham were making inroads though as speedsters Ben Stevens and Toby Simmons were now finding space. However it was their reliable driving maul that was successful as Jonny Vincent powered over for his 13th try of the season. 24-17. Farnham cleared their lines well and another penalty was kicked to the corner. The driving maul was yet again successful but this time Oscar Henderson scored in the corner for the bonus point score, 24-22.

However the momentum shifted again when a Stags lineout move broke through some weak tackling as their captain powered over for the score. Conversion successful, 31-22. Farnham thought they had another fine score but Toby Simmons was scragged into touch. However minutes later, some good hands through the backs gave Toby Simmons another chance and he finished well in then corner for his 2nd score, 31-27. Farnham were starting to dominate the scrum with Greg Franzel, Jonny Vincent and Jeff Leybourne getting plenty of success. Ben Jones and Chris Te-Mete came on for the last 15 minutes as well as Farnham academy graduate Mikey Leybourne who for his young age, looked right at home.

An attacking scrum gave Farnham a good platform to launch. Ben Jones took the ball to the line and found Joey Wood bursting through the middle and sprinting clear for his 2nd score of the game as Farnham had the lead for the first time. Conversion successful, 31-34 with 10 minutes to go. However Stags claimed back the restart and Farnham were on the back foot. The attack was patient and they eventually found space on the left and their winger finished off well in the corner. 36-34. Stags had field position as the time ticked on and won a penalty in front of the posts. Their kicker sent the kick through as the final whistle followed, 39-34.

Another gutting away loss for Farnham but showed great fight to come back and almost take the win. A week off is then followed by the final game which is at home to Hammersmith & Fulham. A shoutout to the 2s who won 127-0, potentially the highest score by a Farnham team? If anyone knows of a higher one then I would love to know.

Presidents podium:
3- Joey Wood
2- Toby Simmons
1- Greg Franzel