FRUFC U14 A Squad keep battling!

Farnham 3 Dorking 31.

In what was likely to be the last game of the season, this was going to be a tough match. Dorking, a well drilled team, narrowly missing a win over league leaders Chobham before their visit to Farnham.

The game started well with Farnham receiving from the kick off. Clean catch and first ruck perfectly executed by the team. Unfortunately in the ensuing melee, a Dorking player was knocked unconscious and the game stopped as quickly as it had started. A game of musical pitches ensued as the Vets pitch was quickly dressed then undressed and the original 1st XV pitch redressed for the restart as the injured player was taken to hospital. The boys were chomping at the bit to get stuck back in, evidenced by the rapid shift of flags and pads between pitches and back again!

Not long after the restart Dorking broke our line, dotted down under the posts and with the wind behind, safely slotted the conversion. 0 - 7.

And so began the rhythm of this game with Farnham grinding their way up the pitch the hard way, cleaning out rucks, recycling multiple phases of ball, keeping their cool and frustrating their opposition in the process but being brutally punished for errors, compounded by a team who with the benefit of a deceptively strong wind could kick deep back into Farnham’s half. It wasn’t long before Dorking took advantage again and went over the whitewash for their second. Conversion 0 - 14.

There was a lot of passion on the pitch today, from both teams, which resulted in a quick chat between skippers and referee shortly after the restart. Farnham took the upper hand and started a text book 5 phases of play up the pitch with marauding, gritty runs from Finn Hills, Billy Shepherd, James Goldsworth and Isaac James, until Dorking’s frustration yielded a penalty. Skipper Benjy Biggs and Fly Rufus Doran made the decision to kick for the points. A bold move considering the wind but Rufus slotted the penalty confidently, 3 - 14.

Dorking came back hard, working fast ball to the wing and exposing a seemingly consistent weakness of our width in defense. Unconverted try. 3 - 19.

HT

Farnham, now with the wind behind us, started to execute our own kick and chase strategy deep into Dorking’s half, but despite keeping the oppo in their own 22 for decent stretches, we couldn’t turn our possession into points. Moreover, Dorking defended strongly and with ball in hand they continued to exploit our narrow defence, with our wingers consistently having to manage overlaps of 2 - 3. More work required there. Try Dorking, no conversion 3 - 24.

More of the back and forth typical of this game with Farnham unable to turn our territory possession into points. Another moment of brilliance from Rufus who danced his way around inbound tacklers in our dead ball area to get a better angle and loft a long / high kick to clear our lines but another visit from Dorking resulted in the last score of the game, converted 3 - 31.

The saying “the score didn’t reflect the match” was made for this game. It was a difficult win for a strong Dorking team.

There are areas for improvement but that shouldn’t overlook the positives. Fact is the team played well, with great spirit and as per the ask in the pregame coaches chat, they left it all out there on the pitch.

Man of the match was Finn Hills who was faultless in his commitment and execution today. Tackles, work rate, disruption, attitude all exceptional. A big shout to Benjy Biggs who’s leadership on and off the pitch has been the backbone of this team. And finally to all the team, who’s greatest development over a challenging season in the top tier of the Waterfall Cup, has been their dogged determination to relentlessly keep grinding on no matter the score line.