Farnham U16 league form continues

Having lost by 4 points in the last minutes of the game, Farnham were looking for a big performance this year.

Playing into a strong wind and with a slight uphill gradient, the game started with a great kick from Farnham and Jordan Greener almost securing the ball. A clearance from Warlingham saw play shift down to the Farnham 22 and there followed several nervous minutes as Warlingham tested the Farnham defences.

As we have come to expect this season, Farnham held firm and eventual struck first for a converted try. A massive carry from No. 12 Charlie Fox followed by a great offload to Matt Carrington and an equally deft pass to Jordan Greener saw Farnham score under the posts.

Warlingham came back at the restart and again threw everything they had at the Farnham defences but to no avail. After several attempts of our own it was Thomas Brooker who crosses the line for our second score and a 12 – 0 half time lead.

The half time team talk was all about maintaining the intensity and ensuring that Farnham would be the first to score in the second half – 3 tries to nil looks a lot different to 2 tries to 1 and everyone knew that the next score was going to be crucial. With the wind and slope advantage Farnham pressed home their advantage and in the second half, the flood gates opened.

The pack put in a sterling performance with bruising clashes for Stuart ford and Freddy Tully against a Warlingham side that seemed to increase in size with every substitution made. Thomas Brooker was everywhere and Jordan Frost led from the front as the Farnham forwards gave no quarter and continued to put together the platform for the performance. The backs showed their superiority by snuffing out every attack from Warlingham but making massive inroads into the Warlingham defence at every opportunity.

Mid way into the second half, the Warlingham spirit seemed broken as Farnham racked up five unanswered second half tries. With the score on 39 nil we just needed a conversion to close out the game but the strong wind and difficult kicking position saw the ball drift wide.

The restart saw a flurry of penalties given against Farnham and with just 3 minutes on the clock Warlingham had their best opportunity of the game. A penalty just 8 metres out from the Farnham try line was given and the boys were adjudged to have not been back 10. The second penalty was awarded and taken quickly with a drive over try from Warlingham. The exhausted kick went wide and proved to be the final play of the game as Farnham finally avenged their defeat of last year with a fine 39 – 5 victory.

The win leaves Farnham top of division 4 with one game remaining. It is still mathematically possible for us to not win the division but I feel confident that we are safe from relegation!

Team: William Ackroyd, Jevan Watson, Stuart Ford, Harry Bowden, Freddy Tully, Thomas Brooker, Shaun Kemp, Jordan Frost, Josh Swinney, Alistair Williams, Charlie Fox, Matthew Carrington, Jordan Smith, Jordan Greener, George Northwood. Replacements (all used) Hal Jupp, Daniel Willett, Rowan Campbell, Luke Convery, Toby Fairhead, David Tyler, Ben Turnbull.

Scorers:

Tries: J Greener (2) T Brooker, S Ford, T Fairhead, G Northwood, J Smith
Conversions: Carrington (2)
Penalties: None