On a fine autumnal day in West London by the prestigious Hurlingham Club, Farnham played its first ever fixture against Hammersmith and Fulham at the adjacent public park. Founded in 1978 ‘the Hammers’ have enjoyed a rise up through the leagues not dissimilar to Farnham. They are a nomadic team who play a brand of fast running rugby that was too good for local rivals Camberley on the first day of the season.
The visitors started the game well and put the west London team under pressure. However, they conceded a penalty and from under his posts, the home flyhalf cleared to the half way line. From the line out, the Hammers launched a sweeping attack across the pitch and then switched back to their right wing who cantered over to score out wide. The kick sailed over and Farnham were 7-0 down after just two minutes.
Farnham replied with intent driven on by skipper Ollíe Brown, celebrating his 150th start in first team colours, and a feisty back row of Jordan Frost and Toby Comley led by new talisman Oscar Henderson. Time after time and attack after attack the Black and Whites came close with second rowers Ben Adams and Jamie Lowe leading the charge against a resilient home defence. But just when a score seemed on the cards, a knock on or a loose pass stopped the momentum – increasingly frustrating for all. The deadlock could not be broken.
The biggest frustration was that everyone of the Farnham squad of 18 had a good game. They all gave full-on commitment and effort for close on ninety minutes and just could not get the win they deserved. There are too many good players in this side and as they adapt to this division’s speed of hand and decision making, the wins will come.
For twenty minutes of sparring, Farnham had more possession and territory than their hosts. In the set piece scrums props Marco Azevedo and Ben Edwards consistently destroyed the home front row and with Jules Joris and Jonny Vincent enjoying a good day with their throw ins, at last the Black and Whites could work with some decent line out ball. But still the mistakes marred the attacks.
On the half hour, Farnham conceded a penalty on the home 22 and another huge penalty clearance kick gave the Hammers a rare attacking opportunity and they took it – again through their flying right winger. 14-0. After only two meaningful attacks had produced two scores against, Farnham’s frustration mounted.
It was obvious to all that the home front row was having a torrid time. As the half drew to a close, a superb driving scrum demolished the Hammers forwards under their posts. A penalty and possibly a yellow card seemed certain. It was not to be.
The second half was a repeat of the first but at last Farnham ticked the scoreboard over with a penalty from Toby Salmon for another collapsed scrum. The backs, through centres Tim Salmon and Jarred Cooper, began to punch holes. However, twice winger Rees Stennett, with the line at his mercy, received a rushed, inaccurate pass and the chances were wasted. Young full back Rory Taylor, who enjoyed a fine debut, also made inroads giving opportunities to a resurgent Gabe Hills who was at his twisting, driving, annoying best. The home side were besieged in their own half and injuries began to mount. One such incident surely robbed Farnham of a try when, with a two man overlap 15 metres out and a score virtually certain, the referee inexplicably stopped the game as the physios attended a player on the distant side of the pitch. That word again – Frustration!
Farnham fell for a third sucker punch when a misguided clearance kick fell into the arms of the home right wing and after inter-passing with the other two flyers in the Hammers back three, the killer try was scored wide out 19-3 with 10 minutes left.
Back came Farnham who, at last, completed a sustained attack. Successive driving mauls were just held up close to the try line to set up a twisting, squirming final drive by winger Gabe Hills to secure the score under the posts. An easy kick for Toby Salmon took the final score to 19-10. The last act proving too little too late.