After the heavy weight contest of last Saturday could Farnham come off the ropes to take on third placed title contenders London Exiles to secure another win in wet dank and dreary conditions?
With a number of enforced changes young tyros, Andrew Kidd and Michael Mizzi made up a young engine room and back row. Their youthful energy proved necessary as Farnham ground out a win over a well organised, energetic Exiles side. Both sides were up for a toe to toe battle with every gained yard a mini victory. Defences dominated the day.
Fly half Toby Salmon scored all of the Black and White’s points in the first period to give the hosts the advantage in increasingly soggy conditions. A superb turnover by Mizzi produced quick ball for his first score. Spotting the gap, scrum half Harry West, in for Oli Brown away on other duties, held the pop pass perfectly to free up the squirming ball of talent that is Toby Salmon. He went in at the corner and its 5-0 after the first quarter of attack and counter attack.
As the title suggests, Exiles are a nomadic club who traditionally have chosen to shun training. However, these days the club attracts players determined to be as fit as they can be. They fielded a group of fit talented rugby players all playing from the same song sheet. Their pace was relentless, the defence organised and solid and their multi-phased attacks came thick and fast. They mirrored Farnham in virtually every department.
That was until the 30th minute. Farnham were trapped under siege on their own five metre line when Kidd spotted a gap. He cleared the encircling Exiles attack out to the the 22 where he popped the ball inside to Toby Salmon. Salmon increased the pace and chipped the ball over the Exiles full back. The foot race to the Exiles 22 was pure theatre. Salmon edged the outcome by audaciously volleying the dropping ball and plunging into the in-goal area for a superb break out try – a try tinged with the sort of magic that creates live sport. A few deep breaths and the scorer converted his own try from wide out to push the score to 12-0.
Both scores had come against the run of play. Exiles had blitzed the Farnham defence giving them the possession and the territorial advantage for much of the first half. As the interval whistle neared, they launched another sweeping multi-phased attack. Direct down the left wing and a penalty awarded. The Exiles win their line out and a drove the maul in field, ever closer to the Farnham posts. Scrum half Gordon spotted a chink in the home defence and scooted in under the posts. The easy conversion left the score 12-7 at the half-time break with all to play for.
The light was bad at the restart but the gloom, however, did not descend on the match. The intensity and pace of the game increased as the second half wore on. Both sides were determined to enjoy the spoils of victory. This one was going down to the final bell and would be decided by who could challenge hardest and retain the ball.

Farnham now had the slight breeze and drizzle at their backs and the threequarters began to turn the screw. The massive left foot of full back Jack Scullion and the chasing vigour of Stennet and Cerullo pinned Exiles back. Michael Salmon and James Corlett through the centre had been magnificent in forming the defensive wall and now began to probe through the middle in attack. Liam Welch Mizzi and skipper for the day Toby Comley drove forward in supporting roles. It was relentless.
Marco Azevado and Jules Joris on the charge breached the Exiles 22 as Farnham mounted another attack. Rob Mitchell and Haynes, who both enjoyed fine games, upped the support to free up Welch to score under the posts. Easy for Toby Salmon gave Farnham a 19-7 lead and the precious two score advantage.
Back came the Exiles time and time again winning penalty after penalty. Salmon was sent to the bin for Farnham’s persistent infringements. This was desperate stuff. Could the fourteen men hold out?
The referee continued to find fault and a penalty to the corner saw the Exiles in for the try. 19-12 as the conversion was sliced wide. Still two scores as the clock wound down agonisingly slowly. The Farnham Faithful had to endure another nail-biting, backs-to-the-wall, down-to-the-whistle denouement. And so it was, just like last week, Farnham were awarded a penalty at the scrum and, appropriately, Toby Salmon hammered the ball into the crowd.
This was yet another superb tribute to Level 7 rugby. Full on, totally committed with no quarter asked or given.
Next week a break from League Rugby as Farnham welcome Tottonians to Monkton Lane in the Intermediate Cup. Kick off 2 pm.