The last two weekends of monsoon-like weather have left the Monkton Lane pitches awash akin to a paddy field – and still the wind and rain bored in from the South West.
It is testament to the Farnham ground staff skill and perseverance that the league match against Old Tonbridgians (OTs) was played at all. At times, conditions made play somewhat of a lottery but the significance of the half-time score cannot be exaggerated. Farnham were 17-12 down having played playing into the teeth of the storm yet ran out winners by 43-17 by the end of this hard, rain soaked, wind-affected contest.
Skipper Ollie Brown won the toss and elected to take on the elements for the first half. OTs started at a furious pace with multi-phase pick and drive attacks battering the Farnham defensive wall that had recently been honed against the enormous Old Colfeian pack. Gradually Farnham worked their way out of their own half, win the penalty and Toby Salmon puts the ball into touch fifteen metres out. At the line out, hooker Ben Brown finds Ben Adams and the maul rumbled forward. No 9 Ollie Brown releases the ball to fly half Toby Salmon at pace. He wriggles and squirms through the defence and is in under the posts. No kicks were easy on this day, but Toby made sure and advantage to the home side 7-0.
With only 11 minutes gone, OTs launch another series of attacks. A series of full pace pick and drives culminated in jack-in-the-box scrum half Henry Johnstone sniping over for the score. He converted his own try 7-7.
With the strong wind at their back, the visitors advance but their handling went awry and Farnham winger Stan Marisa steals possession, cuts straight through the middle. The ball gets to Toby Salmon with older brother Michael on his shoulder for try. The wind did for T Salmon conversion attempt and its 12-7 to the home side.
However, OTs soon showed why – at least for this first half – they have been something of a bogey side for Farnh. They plough through the wind and rain with pick and drive after pick and drive until once again Johnstone spots his opportunity and snipes through the retreating home defence for the try and his own conversion 14-12.
The game was opening up. The kick and chase (with the wind) or hack on and chase (against the wind) became the favoured weapons of attack. Prop Andy Naisbitt saved the day with a lung busting sprint back to protect the try line. However, the pressure beginning told and the visitors were awarded a penalty on the stroke of half time. Easy points for Johnstone and it was 12-17 at the break.
The consensus was that Farnham had done well against absolutely foul conditions and a one score deficit was acceptable. Now to let the wind do its dirty deeds.
The half started with the wind carrying Michael Salmon’s restart into the dead-ball area! Scrum back on the half-way line with OTs put in. However, the Black and Whites powered over the OT pack to win back possession. Farnham drove into the visitors’ 22 and win a scrum five meters out. A repeat the restart scrum puts No 8 Liam Walsh over the try. Scores level at 17-17 but as the wind and rain increased with every minute, the initiative now firmly in Farnham’s hands.
The coaches ring the changes and bring Jonny Davidson on for Steve Simmons, Tom Cerullo for Dave Flower and Connor Haynes for Andy Naisbitt. Still the Farnham scrum dominates. Against Old Colfeians’ huge pack last week, Farnham were grateful a lenient ref did not card them as they retreated. In this game, OTs were treated with similar leniency. Such is rugby, a game where the referee interprets the law. At last a scrum won cleanly and quick ball to man of the match Toby Salmon who put flying winger Stan Marisa over in the corner. Toby converted with a tremendous effort from the touchline. 24-17 and daylight started to appear.
OTs started to tire and could not manage one meaningful attack into the home half. The flood gates opened with a brilliant kick and chase try by Toby Salmon who then converted - 31-17.
From a scrum on the Farnham 10 metre line, the ball is shipped to Tom Cerullo who outstripped the OTs defence to score a great individual in the corner. 36-17 and Tonbridgians on the ropes.
The final coup de grace was caused by a speculative pass from scrum half Henry Johnstone, who had otherwise played brilliantly. The ball was snaffled by the equally brilliant Toby Salmon who slid in under the posts and finished the game with his own conversion. 43-17 the final score.
Blustery wind, horizontal rain, sticky under foot, yet the handling throughout from both sides was in the main superb with tremendous commitment from both sides. Nevertheless, the players could not wait to get into the dressing rooms on the final whistle producing the quickest ever handshakes, tunnels and applauses.
Presidents Podium
Toby Salmon – three tries says it all, involved all over the pitch - 3
Steve Simmons – Did the hard yards and the dirty work throughout – 2
Andy Naisbitt – first receiver on the drives and a superb try saving track back - 1