Farnham’s inconsistent form since the Christmas break continued with a 31-22 defeat at Old Reigatian (OR). OR won the battle at the breakdown and when Farnham dominated possession and territory in the second half, the OR defence was up quickly and aggressive in the tackle. Meanwhile, Farnham failed to make the most of the resources at their disposal.
The sizeable party of away supporters and the coaches pleaded for the ball to be passed out quickly to Farnham’s pacey backs, but invariably the first receiver was a forward – hard working and hard running but no threat to OR’s solid defence which was based on a meaty second row supported by scavenging flankers. OR’s attack, on the other hand, relied on retaining possession for phase after phase on the pick and drive and, when the defence was sucked in, to release their own pacey backs.
Playing on a good surface for running rugby but hampered by a strong cross-field wind, Farnham started brightly. Mike Salmon’s kick-off bounced into touch on the ORs 22. Toby Comley rose to steal the OR throw in at the line out and the Farnham backs attacked right to left. Their line threatened, OR came off-side and Toby Salmon converted the penalty in front. 0-3 and just two minutes played. Here we go?
All sport is subject to the rub of the green. The question now was whether it was the rub of the green or if someone had rubbed the ref up the wrong way. Within 10 minutes Farnham were down to 13 players. Yellow for prop Jules Joris for a high tackle and yellow flanker Toby Comley’s attempted interception adjudged to be a deliberate knock on. OR capitalised on the weakened pack and their No 8 powered over from a 5m scrum.
Soon after the restart, Farnham go for a quick line out which was disrupted as fly half Toby Salmon was clattered way off the ball. The Farnham players took umbrage and an ugly confrontation was eventually calmed by the ref who awards the penalty to Farnham – but no card. Salmon T to the corner from where an accurate line out released the backs who sweep forward at pace to put full-back Dave Flower over. Salmon T with the extras and its 7-10 on 18 minutes.
Comley and Joris returned to the fray but the cut and thrust of the game was interrupted by a seemingly endless stream of penalties against Farnham – be they for off-side or some misdemeanour at the breakdown. The strong wind made long passes a bit of a lottery and while Farnham would knock on, the OR drop would be adjudged to have gone backwards. The rub of the green!
An OR shot at goal was missed but from the 22 re-start, the OR 14 broke the follow up tackle, got in behind the Farnham defence and his support was there to finish the move under the posts. Extras easy and it was 21-10 after 34 minutes. The rest of the period was played in the Farnham half but without further score. Back to the changing rooms for some stern words about game management from the Farnham coaches.
The game restarted with Steve Simmons on for Jordan Frost in the row. Five minutes into the half and a deep clearance kick into the Farnham half was mishandled. Full back Dave Flower was secure all game under the swirling high ball and his two wingers Reece Stennett and Dec Kavanaugh were there in support, but too often the decision making awry or the pass didn’t go to hand. OR’s rapid kick chase probably accounted for much of this. On this occasion, the dropped pass was scooped up by the OR scavengers who release their backs to score out wide. A tremendous conversion by the OR full back takes the score to 28-10. The game was going away from the Black and Whites.
But they didn’t lie down. From a scrappy passage of play where the ball seemed to become a bar of soap for both sides, Liam Welch broke free and scored under the posts from 45 meters out. Salmon T with the extras to make it 28-17 with ten minutes of the half gone.
Farnham applied the pressure for the next twenty minutes and the penalty count against ORs mounts – though never reached anything like parity. One penalty was kicked to the corner where the ever-reliable line out jumper Ban Adams collects and pops the ball down to Liam Welsh who is poised to burst through and score. But the ball is dropped and the opportunity passes. Then Mike Salmon made a trade-mark break and was in behind the OR defence, but unlike OR’s first half effort, the support was not there and the turnover effected.
Back come OR with their pick and drive to earn a penalty under the Farnham hosts and stretch the lead to 31-17. The Farnham coaches throw the dice and bring on the finishers – Ben Brown for Micheal Mizzi on the flank and Dan Northwood for Flowers. While Dan did not get a touch of the ball all the time he was on, brother George ran in a hattrick for Farnham 2XVs in their 0-64 demolition of Camberley that afternoon. The Northwood family pride remains intact.
More Farnham pressure and the ball is, at last, moved across the pitch creating a gap for the indefatigable Reece Stennett to power over. The conversion was missed: 31-22.
The Farnham scrum was now dominant, but not the team’s decision as they became desperate for the score. For example, having been destroyed in an earlier scrum, the OR front row went early and a free was kick awarded. Reset the scrum and win the penalty – surely? No! Scrum-half Ollie Brown taps and goes, gets isolated and turned over. Similar misjudgements across the team as time and again, there was space out wide only for the Farnham runners to go up the middle into contact – where the OR scavengers waited to hold them up or turn them over. Game over.
President’s Podium: Ben Jones 3 – an attacking threat from centre and solid defender all game; Andrew Naisbitt 2 – another strong shift as ball carrier and dominant scrummager; Mike Salmon 1 – abrasive as ever.