Farnham kicked off proceedings at Medway’s Priestfields ground on a cold day with a light breeze.
The game started in much of the same vein as the following 80 minutes with both sides wanting to keep ball in hand with fast phase play met with strong defence meaning the game was largely played in between the two 22’s.
The first clean break coming from Mo Pangarker, the Medway second row, with a strong carry from halfway to Farnham’s 22. A penalty to Medway followed after an offside infringement which, although kickable, they opted to go for touch showing the confidence in their team.
The line out off the top to their backs attacking down the middle of Farnham’s 22 quickly resulted in a penalty to Farnham for holding on with Farnham opting to clear to touch.
Farnham, now in possession, launched their own attacks round the fringes with strong carries from Marco Azevedo, Oscar Henderson and skipper Ollie Brown.
The ball was then spun wide and, in the face of rush defence, Mike Salmon attempted a raking kick downfield which ended up in the arms of oncoming Medway centre Anthony Clement who offloaded to his fly half, Jack Johnson, to run under the posts for the opening score after only 5 minutes. Owen Church-Mills successfully converting, 7-0.
The following kick off was regathered by birthday boy Oscar Henderson and , after a knock on from the opposition, Farnham had the put in to the scrum on the Medway 10 metre line. The scrums were to be highly contested against a formidable Medway pack but first blood to Farnham with a powerful drive awarding them a scrum penalty.
This was kicked to touch and after off the top line out ball was taken in by effervescent wing Jack Rowlandson, the recycled ball span out wide to Oscar Henderson who dummied, stepped and raced in to score from the 22 twelve minutes in. Conversion by Toby Salmon, 7-7.
The next 10 minutes saw Medway putting together multiple phases of attack and pressure resulting in a penalty on the Farnham 22. This time Church-Mills opting for the sticks to make it 10-7 after just over 20 minutes.
The Farnham kick off again regathered by Henderson was passed wide with Mike Salmon kicking through to pressure Medway deep into their 22.
The next 10/12 minutes the teams exchanged kicks and scrums between the 22’s with the experienced front row of Azevedo, Jorris and Edwards holding their own against a sizeable Medway pack.
Several phases of Medway advances were repelled by the defensive efforts of Johnny Vincent, Jamie Low and Jules Jorris. Likewise Farnham’s attacking forays by Toby Salmon, Ollie Brown and Jack Rowlandson were met with stout defense from Medway with their captain and open side, Tom Beaumont, securing a couple of turnovers.
Another decent break by Henderson ends in a high tackle and injury with him being replaced by Ben Brown. The subsequent penalty slotted by Toby Salmon to bring the scores level 10-10 on the 34th minute, a fairly representative score of the game so far.
Nearing the end of the first half Medway took a line out off the top and passed to their powerful and rapid left wing, Alfie Orris, coming off his wing into the 10 channel where he met little resistance and raced into the Farnham 22. Here he was tackled by Jack Rowlandson, but not held, so back on his feet to power over the last 5 yards to score. Church-Mills again with the conversion. 17-10.
With enough time for a restart Medway passed the ball again to Orris, who looked threatening all afternoon, to make yards up the left wing.
The ensuing play led to a collision injury To the Medway fullback and there was a back line shuffle to accommodate his replacement with Orris moving to to 15. More phases of uninterrupted play saw Medway advance near the Farnham 22 with a break by skipper Beaumont who passed to the pacy 10, Johnson, to score wide. Conversion missed by Johnson but Medway go into the break 22-10 up after a wounding last few minutes of the half for Farnham.

Farnham brought Henderson back on for the second half however the first 10 minutes saw the home side pressuring Farnham in their own 22 after the black and whites had tried to play out but conceded a penalty for offside. Fortunately the Medway line out was again stolen by Ben Adams, an area of dominance all afternoon, but touch wasn’t found from the clearance leading to another defensive shift from the visiting forward pack. The dependable Jorris interchanged with Ben brown after taking a knock.
A penalty finally conceded by Farnham and dutifully kicked by Johnson, 25-10 Medway.
The restart saw Farnham battle their way back into opposition territory and were awarded a penalty for their efforts after hands in the ruck. Skipper Ollie Brown took the quick tap near the home 22 and tried to pass down the short side but a knock on by their number 5, Pangarker, was deemed deliberate and the first and only yellow card of the game was shown.
15 points down and 25 minutes to go meant Farnham were going to kick for touch in an attempt to maximise points from their visit to their opponents 22. This turned out to be a wise decision with Ben Adams securing the line out catch, a driving maul was set up and powered over from 10 yards with Jamie Low the man in possession over the whitewash. Conversion missed by Toby Salmon, 25-15.
The next passage of play was Medway, once again, hammering on the door of Farnham’s 22 with resilient tackling from Reece Stennet, Johnny Vincent and a spirited defensive afternoon from Mike Salmon. The resultant pressure culminating in a penalty on the Farnham 22 with Medway’s Johnson once again successful with the boot. 28-15.
With 15 minutes to go Jorris returns for Farnham as does the Medway second row from his enforced break.
On more than one occasion Farnham failed to find touch after working hard to secure penalties which resulted in counter attacks but this time forced out of play by the defence. Farnham win yet another opposition line out ball and are able to clear.
The next ten minutes once again witnessed strong Medway pressure weathered, in part, by the Salmon brothers Mike and Tim, the latter having replaced Matt Farnes. This period was also dominated by several scrums with Farnham beginning to creak against the sizeable Medway pack and eventually conceding a scrum penalty. Medway 9, Garafolo, takes the quick tap breaching Farnham’s 22 and after a few swift phases spins the ball wide to give the outside centre, Marriott, a clear run in past a now narrow Farnham defence. Johnson converting with 5 minutes to go. 35-15
Farnham bring on their final replacement, the imposing frame of young newcomer Matt Chapman into the second row to win his first cap.
Farnham we’re caught by the defence on their own 22 trying to take the game to their opponents in the last few minutes, knocking on in the tackle. The following scrum returning Medway a penalty with dominance now emerging in this part of the game. They opt to kick for touch with a line out now on Farnham’s 5 metre line, penalty to Medway for encroaching in the line out by Farnham where they opt for a scrum 5 metres out.
One last huge effort from the Farnham pack and some intelligent use of the ‘dark arts’ by the front row see Farnham win a scrum penalty which is cleared to touch outside the 22 by Toby Salmon. The line out taken by Henderson and punched up the middle by Vincent, spun out but knocked on in traffic, full time.
A spirited performance from Farnham against a top three team in an even tempered match with plenty of positives to be taken. Medway 35-15.

Podium points

3 - Oscar Henderson. Particularly strong first half on his birthday providing a real threat in attack and defence and well taken try.

2 - Ben Adams. Stole countless opposition line out ball as well as being a safe pair of hands on ours and tireless defensive work.

3 - Toby Salmon. Consistently looked the most dangerous attacking player for Farnham and never stopped trying to create in the face of constant defensive pressure.