London Exiles 19pts, Farnham 19pts

ON a beautiful spring day by the Thames in the shadow of Fulham Football Club’s Craven Cottage ground, third from bottom London Exiles welcomed third-placed Farnham in London 2 South West. What could possibly go wrong?

Farnham needed a win to maintain their momentum for a promotion play-off place. Maybe the black and whites had one eye on the play-off decider next week against Old Tonbridgians where a bonus point win in the match would see them start that game on level terms. Meanwhile Exiles, battling to stave off relegation, had picked their strongest side of the season, bolstered by players returning from unavailability and injury, and boy did it show in this attritional, topsy-turvy contest.

It was neck and neck to the final whistle and the outcome was a 19-19 draw and two points each.

Farnham made a bright start with the forwards rolling into their familiar attack patterns prompted by skipper Ollie Brown, with Jonny Davidson, Ben Adams, Jules Joris and Marco Azevado all making early inroads. And the Exiles were on the back foot following a Farnham penalty into the home 22. Hooker Davidson picked out Adams at the lineout, and driving second row partner Simmons passed to Azevado who struck out toward the posts before linking with Toby Salmon to scurry in for the openers and an easy conversion.

But despite that early 7-0 lead something wasn’t quite clicking for Farnham.

Passes were not quite going to hand, planned moves were just mistimed and first-up tackles were missed – and the Exiles capitalised. In their pomp they are a classy side who, on Saturday’s performance, belied their league position. Half backs and back row combined to create many opportunities and something had to give.

After a breakout from a scrum on halfway Exiles stole a lineout and from the resultant scrum shunted back the Farnham pack. Pressure and a cut back allowed centre Atkins to score under the posts untouched. The easy extras levelled the scores at 7-7.

Farnham then enjoyed a purple patch as the referee seemed to go through a lineout infringement phase much to the bemusement of the Exiles pack. Time after time a minor infringement was punished with yard-gaining free kicks and penalties. Toby Salmon kicked to the corner and from the lineout centre Michael Salmon freed up co-centre Alex Chalker who was held up agonisingly close to the line.

Again, Exiles were penalised and Farnham drove from the lineout, but after a period absorbing sustained Farnham attacks Exiles won a turnover and broke out. But they were halted in their tracks by combined hits from Jordan Frost and Ben Adams. Eliot Rich then took the ball at pace and transferred to Frost, who made the most of the space out wide to free up Ben Adams for a try and a 12-7 lead.

From the kick off Exiles again went for a driving maul and, with Farnham unusually disorganised in defence, freed up their rangy second row to score by the corner flag, levelling the scores once again at 12-12.

Even with the frustrations and mistakes continuing to niggle, Farnham went back on the attack and after a turnover by Rob Mitchell, Jonny Davidson looked certain to score out wide but was forced into touch just a metre short. And there was more frustration as prop Jules Joris knocked on under the posts, spilling another chance right on half time.

The second period was as intense as the first but the full-on commitment from both sides was littered with a poor final pass or knock on and some bemusing refereeing decisions. The Exiles began to wrest the initiative and momentum away from Farnham. After their No8 picked up from a scrum on halfway, they surged into the Farnham 22. They used quick ball and there was Atkins with an identical move in under the posts, the conversion putting Exiles ahead for the first time in the match, 19-12.

Farnham’s bench was now empty. Tom Cerullo was on for Chalker, Toby Comley for Davidson and Connor Haynes for Joris, but their troubles continued with Chalker back on for the injured Frost. Despite all the changes and disruptions, Farnham’s defence continued to hold as the past three full-on encounters seemed to have battle-hardened the Farnham boys.

A fast breakout saw Toby Salmon spot the mismatch with the Exiles prop. Linking up with Ben Adams down the right-hand touchline, he was over in the corner. Salmon Jnr followed up his try with a superb touchline conversion to restore parity at 19-19.

Exiles were beginning to flag and Farnham had two more chances to win. First, Rob Mitchell was crowded out and turned over just ten metres out and then, in the last play of the match, the umpteenth phase was knocked on leaving a massive overlap abegging. It summed up Farnham’s day.

Saturday is one of the biggest day’s in Farnham’s history. The match against Old Tonbridgians kicks off at 3pm with both teams vying for second place in London 2 South West and the chance to play Horsham for a place in Division 1.