Farnham vs Sutton & Epsom
35 – 20
Man of the Match Leo Taylor

A very competitive game against a good side with a strong set of forwards and a number of very fast and dangerous backs.
We started strongly with good possession and go forward, opening the scoring with some great running from a number of players and also looking strong with a number of close chances. Switching between the use of the forwards and good use of width with the backs.
When they had the ball we started to lose our shape in defence, which gave Sutton & Epsom room, and with a static defensive line and some missed tackles, the tide started to turn. We allowed them too much space and one or two of their fast and dangerous players, in more room they were difficult to tackle and we gave them the chance to run at us, letting them back at us to finish the half 10-20 to them.

At half time we spoke about our defensive organisation, our go forward and cutting down time and space. The boys obviously listened because the pressure we put on them in the second half was immense, forcing errors sometimes without contact and driving Sutton & Epsom onto the back foot with the gain line creeping forward. This was also evident at the breakdown with some strong counter rucking, leading to a number of turnovers and some great jackling, with steals from individuals across the forwards and their direct running that gave us a great platform to work from. There were and some brilliant runs from across the team handing of and offloading , with interplay's that used and created space we were able to force outside, allowing the backs to be unleashed and make devastating use of the width.

Every time S&E got the ball we were up on them quickly and put them under enough pressure to force an error.

It was this team work and defensive pressure from the whole team, covering from one wing to the other that ultimately led to the second half performance and the final victory of 35-20 to us.

Some great performances from across the team 1 to 15, but my particular highlight was Leo’s breakaway try from the middle of the fray, with the whole opposition scattered at his heels, running half the pitch and scoring under the posts.

Rob Hunt