Farnham came to Sunbury to play London Irish Amateur on the back of a loss to promotion favourites Camberley. Despite the result, the Black and Whites had shown they could compete in this this highly competitive league – if only they could cut the error count!

Welcoming back the trio of Salmon Brothers and the last-minute return of Steve ‘Animal’ Simmons, Farnham had a good opportunity to add to their points tally against a London Irish side one place below.

However, playing into a stiff, chilling wind in the first half on a dry firm pitch, it was going to be tough for the Black and Whites to gain field position against the Irish, who used the wind to pin the visitors back.

Time and again, Farnham received possession deep in their own half and strung together three or four phases of play. Their backs and forwards showed good skills, particularly the half-back pairing of Harry West and Tim Salmon. However, that possession was lost each time Farnham reached the opposition’s territory through penalty infringements or the ball being spilled.

Farnham’s defence held out for most of the first period and their scrum began to gain fierce superiority.

With two minutes to go before the break, Farnham launched an attack from a lineout and drove into the Irish half – only to concede a penalty for holding on.

Using the wind to great advantage, the Irish flyhalf kicked to within five metres of the Farnham goal line. The throw to the middle of the line was caught and the maul set. The Farnham pack initially resisted well and held the Irish attack, but the maul spun toward the posts allowing the Irish Number 8, Ed Harte to dive for the line and score the first try of the game. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful. 5-0.

In the final minute of the half Farnham reached the Irish 22 for only the third time in forty minutes. A slick move from a scrum on half-way line led to the Irish conceding a penalty for offside in mid-field. Tim Salmon kicked to touch within striking distance of the Irish goal line. The ball was secured at the line out, but the opportunity was lost when the supporting players knocked on. The referee blew for half time.

The teams came out from the half-time break with the flood lights on and the wind noticeably weaker. The game resumed with both sides continuing to make errors, handing possession back and forth after short periods of play.

Despite being penalised for a series of offenses the nature of which were difficult to identify from the touchline, Farnham defended solidly and the scrum remained dominant. Farnham then lost to injury second row Jamie Low - one of the best performers of the day.

The reduced intensity of the wind allowed the Irish, from yet another penalty, to kick to the left-hand touch line well within the Farnham 22. With another secure catch and drive, Harte broke away charging fifteen yards to score. This time the conversion was successful. 12-0.

The game returned to its error-strewn pattern until Tim Salmon kicked a penalty to touch well within the Irish 22. The line out was secured by Ben Adams, the drive was good, and the ball released to the backs. Following several quick phases, Farnham were five metres from the try line. Toby Salmon chipped through. The ball was gathered by the Irish, but the clearance ricocheted wildly off the Farnham forwards to be gathered by the Farnham backs, who again attacked the line. However, the Irish defence held solid and drove Farnham back. Eventually a Farnham attacker was caught in possession and Irish could clear their lines.

On 60 minutes, Irish were granted another penalty thirty metres out, just right of the posts. With the wind now barely a zephyr, the Irish flyhalf chose to kick for goal and was on target for the three pointer. 15-0.

Minutes after the penalty, Farnham were to lose another battling forward, Oscar Henderson. He sustained an elbow injury while engaged in the physical and niggly battle of the breakdown that the game had become.

Farnham’s dominant scrum was the key to their gaining traction in the Irish half. However, the Irish sustained a second injury to a front row player and its unopposed scrums for the rest of the game. The laws insist that the side unable to field a fit front row must concede another player and the Irish team is reduced to fourteen players. At the uncontested set scrum, the law insists on both teams forming with eight men. Nevertheless, despite gaining numerical superiority out wide, Farnham had not lost a key area of dominance.

With minutes left, the Irish forceed another line out in the Farnham half from which yet another Farnham handling error led to a scrum. However, the Irish set their scrum with only seven players in the pack. The pick and go from the base set up a multi-phase attack from their full back line. Eventually, the Irish centre crashed over to score from five metres out. The conversion was successful. 22-0.

Farnham never gave up and with a minute left, another good attack resulted in a lineout within the Irish half. The result of the catch and drive was a continuation of what had been occurring all game with a knock on allowing the referee to blow for full time.

Presidents Podium:
3. Marco Azevedo (representing the entire front row)
2. Ben Adams
1. Tim Salmon