On a beautiful day for rugby, Farnham welcomed London Welsh 1st XV to a league game for the first – and for the foreseeable future – the last time in both club’s history. Ex-Premiership club London Welsh is rebuilding with its sights set firmly on restoring the club to its once Wales and Barbarian player glory. And so it is that London Welsh possesses the playing resources to overwhelm a Farnham team whose home-grown players had reached the heights of London 1 for the first time in the club’s history.
Despite the score line of 5-41, this was not a completely one-sided affair. All 18 Farnham boys fought like tigers, demonstrated a high level of skill, remained true to their well-coached patterns and threatened to score on numerous occasions. However, Welsh were clinically efficient in the Farnham 22 and well drilled in defence when Farnham reached theirs.
Within five minutes Welsh had an attacking line out on the Farnham ten metre line. The maul was successfully repelled but as the ball was released to the Welsh backs, a mistimed interception was deemed a deliberate knock on and No 8 Toby Comley was given an early ten minute rest. Welsh kicked to the corner, sucked in the Farnham defence with multiple pick and goes and then made use of the man advantage to spin the ball wide and with a 3-1 overlap, dotted down under the posts.
Despite being a man down, Farnham then exerted some pressure in the Welsh half. Skipper and No 9 Ollie Brown was quick to charge down his opposite number’s box kick and in the ensuing scramble, winger Alex Chalker was unlucky not to pick off the interception that would have seen him clear to the line.
The Welsh outfit reset and drove up the narrow side with multiple phases – many of which were snuffed out by winger Reece Stennett who never misses a tackle. As they approached the line, No 7 Sam Woodhams was convinced he had successfully jackalled the Welsh attacker and his team mates agreed. However, it is a fatal error not to play to the whistle, which the Welsh did by snaffling the ball and diving over for the try. Conversion missed. 0-12 after 20 minutes.
Back come Farnham into the Welsh 22. The Farnham line out worked well all afternoon with Jonny Vincent accurate to Ben Adams or Toby Comley. From the line out Farnham pick and go, Ollie Banks-Thompson - on for Connor Haynes who was being assessed for a head injury - on the charge is stripped of the ball and the Welsh counter. B-T had a very good game in the tight and may have secured a number of scrum penalties had the referee interpreted the laws differently.
Again, the Welsh power up the narrow right side. Farnham stray offside. Welsh kick to the corner and the maul powers over. 0-19 on 35 minutes. From each team’s three visits into the opposition 22 thus far, the Welsh had come away with points while Farnham remained empty handed.
As the half drew to a close, Farnham enjoyed good possession and stretched the Welsh defence left and right. Matt Farnes at 10 distributed the ball effectively allowing brothers Toby and Tim Salmon at centre to make ground, the latter carrying particularly hard and straight. Their elder brother Mike at full back joined in with his inimitable abrasive style of running. When the ball came back to the tight five, there was Jon Vincent to make the yards alongside the ever-present Marco Azevedo. Steve “Animal” Simmons, a hardworking servant of the club for many years, cleared the rucks alongside fellow row-man the youthful Harrison Horner. Harrison carried well – perhaps too well. As the Farnham attack gained momentum, he punched through the Welsh defence only to find himself isolated. Half time.
Farnham restarted the half into the stiffening breeze and their blitz defence soon forced the Welsh to knock on. From the scrum Tim Salmon breaks their line but he is also isolated and Welsh kick for the line out in the Farnham 22. The Farnham D again forced the knock on, but by now the Farnham scrum is creaking under a significant weight disadvantage. It was Welsh’ massive No 4. Ed Couzens, who, after a couple of quick tap penalties, reached over a long arm to score. The conversion is missed. 0-26 ten minutes into the half.
Farnham Coach Ali Chisholm rings the changes. Harrison Horner had emptied the tank and on came veteran Jemi Akin-Olugbade to the flank with Adams back to the row.
Toby Salmon, eager to send the Welsh back as far as possible, over kicks the restart and from the scrum at the centre, the Welsh go through the phases. Their handling is slick and their running lines threatening. At the end of the game, London Welsh' COO Mike Talbot commented, "That's the best we've played this year."
However, the Farnham D is as niggardly as ever and Animal Simmons’ clear turnover was not rewarded. The Welsh power over. The conversion is good 0-31.
Farnham heads could have gone down and with fifteen minutes to go, the game could have become a rout. But that did not happen. Yes, Welsh did the cross the line twice more but by now the home side was getting none of the 50/50 decisions and, desperate to get something from the game, were throwing the ball about a bit.
As it was, the penultimate play of the game was a scintillating break out by Farnham lead by full-back Mike Salmon. A beautifully timed pass to brother Toby set him free on the left and with Chalker running a decoy line outside, he skinned the scramble defence to score out wide. Albeit the best try of the day, it was minimal reward for the Farnham boy’s heroic efforts. The ultimate play of the day was yet another crunching, try saving tackle from man of the match Tim Salmon. Final score 5-41.
President’s Podium: Tim Salmon 3, Jon Vincent 2, Reece Stennett 1.