The 17-38 score line suggests that Farnham were well and truly beaten at Monkton Lane and the home defences had been swept away! Read on.
This was pulsating match from first to last with a last-minute score by the Ironsides distorting the true picture of the game. The pluses for Farnham were plain for all to see. The Ironsides scrum was decimated and in retreat for almost the whole of the game. Marco Azevedo, Jules Joris and Ben Edwards have dominated ever scrum over the last few weeks and consistently referees at this level have not rewarded their superiority.
Could Farnham have snatched a win – No!
Once again match management, that final snap decision or that final loose pass ruined a scoring opportunity. However, if the referee had taken the correct punishment action at the scrums – penalty after penalty would have resulted in sin bin periods for the retreating Battersea forwards. Then ‘what might have been’ - but unfortunately wishful thinking does not win matches.
The large crowd enjoyed the spectacle. From a neutral rugby lovers point of view this was a full-on end-to-end pacy encounter for the full eighty minutes. Farnham enjoyed the bulk of possession and territory but simply did not have enough weapons or guile to open a gnarly, well organised defence. Battersea could not have complained they had conceded tries in the first half – an alleged double movement stopped a sure Farnham score after just eight minutes and with constant pressure on the visitors at the set pieces, the Irons were camped in their 22. It was an aggressive camp which they defended successfully against everything Farnham could throw at them.
Against the run of play Battersea broke out with skipper and talisman No.8 Thrower. He escaped the clutches of the Farnham back row to charge sixty metres and free up winger Turner to score. Easy for Baker. 0-7.
Back came Farnham driven on by man of the match scrum half Rory Taylor who had an electric first game in this position. Bristling with intent around the fringes supported by captain for the day Ben Adams alongside fellow backrowers Toby Comley and Jonathan Vincent. The pressure built in the Irons 22. Two scrum penalties and a drive led to the try scored by Comley but the conversion attempt hit the post. Small margins again. Score 5-7.
Constant all-out attack – spearheaded by some superb break-out, lung-bursting runs from full back Gabe Hills and fly half Toby Salmon - kept Farnham on the front foot. However, it also exposed them to line breaks and counter attacks and the Ironsides capitalised at one such opportunity. A lobbed pass from Moates to prop Bailey put them over under the posts – 5-14. Two visits to the Farnham 22 and two scores. Efficiency!
The ebb and flow continued and with one minute left to half time, Harrison Horner and Jamie Low drove on from a line out allowing Taylor to free up Michael Salmon to put brother Toby in under the posts. Extra points for the scorer and 12-14 at the break.
The second half proved even more roller coaster than the first. Adams had an innocuous knock on deemed deliberate and the resulting penalty was chipped over by Baker 12-17. Yet more constant Farnham pressure with no reward save a break-out by Ironsides’ man of the match Thrower and another try. The pattern was set. Farnham huffed and puffed again but just couldn’t blow the house down only for Ironsides to break out and flanker Reeves to score the try. 12-31 and the victory heading towards South London.
Too little too late. After a successful surge, Vincent was in for a try. However, a final Farnham attack from deep in their half broke down to put the back three under pressure allowing Battersea’s Jeffs to stroll over untouched for a game distorting final score line. 17-38.
Frustrating again for the Black and Whites. After dominating the set pieces and the territorial battle Farnham just could not breach a gritty Ironsides defence. The Irons broke out time and time again to run out 38-19 winners. The score line flattered them as Farnham wasted their opportunities.
Podium
Rory Taylor 3 points - an electric debut
Ben Adams 2 - skipper and led from the front throughout
Gabe Hills 1 back to his defence busting best.