U13 As take another bonus point win in the Premier League

After what seemed like a whole week's rain fell in three hours on Saturday evening the U13s management team were put on notice that a plan B might be needed for the location of today's game. Low and behold Steve Tomlinson climbed out of his Ark at a soggy Wilkinson Way to declare three of the four pitches unplayable. Camberley had generously offered an alternative pitch at Yateley Manor School for the As match so the only playable pitch at Fortress Farnham (The 1st Pitch naturally) was allocated to the U13Bs for their vital league match vs Reigate Pilgrims. Meanwhile the U13 faithful set off down the BVR to Yateley for their revised "Home" fixture.

By 11:30 the sun had decided to make a welcome appearance and the scene was set for a bruising U13 Premier Division local derby. These teams had already met this season - a 3x20 minute friendly last September in which Farnham shocked Camberley during the first 20 minutes with a superb blitzkrieg performance but which proved too intense a pace to keep up for the full 60 minutes. This time, with league points at stake and with much greater mid-season fitness levels in place, the team were confident of a good performance.

The match started well but Camberley fought for the ball fiercely, surprising the Farnham boys by stripping the ball in the tackle and winning rucks and line-outs which our boys would have hoped to dominate. It began to look as if these were two well matched sides and a the boys realised that they would have to play as a team to make an impression.

Slightly against the run of play, 7 minutes and two or three phases in, the ball was deftly spun out to Aston Ulisse on the left wing who was able to accelerate away from his opposite number for a beautiful try in the left corner. Finlay Anderson stepped up for a difficult conversion from the sideline which he deftly slotted with metronomical precision to leave Farnham 7-0 up. A great way to put our stamp on the game!

Within moments of the restart, this time it was Camberley's turn to find themselves deep in the Farnham half and a couple of missed tackles later they scored a soft equalising try. Their kicker was not in the same class as Finlay though so couldn't get it between the posts from that distance, leaving the score at 7-5 to Farnham.

Conceding a slightly soft try had the effect of galvanising the Farnham boys who were focussed on another score. After fighting their way to a scrum on the Camberley 22, our Super-Fly Half, Twinkletoes Dylan Milner got hands on the ball and ran a superb line, surprising the Camberley defence to pop over the line. Finlay once again converted to take the lead to 9 points at 14-5 half way through the first period.

After another 5 minutes of dominant teamwork, farnham were rolling towards the Camberley try line once more. George Guy, who was having another superb game at Scrum Half, spotted a gap left by the Camberley defence and with superb body position, dived over the line to bring the score to 19-5 a couple of minutes before the half time whistle.

Camberley gathered for a stern half time team talk whilst the Farnham boys took on some H2O and kept the squad churning over with some tactical substitutions. At the restart, fresh legs made a difference but a little of the boy's focus had been lost and it was 17 score free minutes into the second period before Louis Thomas stretched his legs and accelerated his way over the line for another 5 pointer, securing a bonus point with the fourth try of the game.

24-5 would have been a nice result but as if to bookend a great team performance, scorer of the opening try, Aston Ulisse, once again hitch-kicked out of the grasp of the Camberley back line to finish the game with another superb try. A final Finlay conversion ended the game with the scoreline at 31-5. A 5 try fest and a bonus point win to leave the team second in the Premier Outer Division table, one point behind but with a game in hand over leaders Reeds Weybridge.

This was real team effort. Special mentions go to Louis Thomas and Ben Atkins for their spirited tackling, Aston Ulisse for his 2 try haul, Finlay Anderson and Dylan Milner for their kicking both from the tee and out of hand and to the scrum who dominated that set piece even if they were out jumped at the line out.

The two remaining League fixtures of the season will be tough games but this was certainly a satisfying performance and bodes well. 3 Wins from 3, and 2 bonus point wins certainly stakes a strong claim. Chobham and Effingham look out!