FARNHAM?15pts

EASTLEIGH 5pts

IN?the wake of England’s early exit from the World Cup, there was at least something for local rugby supporters to cheer at Monkton Lane on Saturday.

Untidy though it was, the match will record a win for Farnham at the season’s end. In the post-match review, the team were realistic in their assessment of a 15-5 victory – too frenetic, too many handling errors and far too many turnovers. All in all it was a taste of what was to come at Twickenham, albeit with a much happier ending.

Rugby is a simple game. If you have the ball and keep it, the opposition can’t score. Far to often the ball is lost because a poorly-placed kick goes straight to the opposition’s backs uncontested or players are isolated and turned over because the support was inadequate.

This was the tale of Saturday’s encounter between Farnham and Hampshire rivals Eastleigh in London 3 South West.

A poor start saw Farnham try three times to break out from their 22, but each time poor communication lead to an untidy conclusion and frustration for players and spectators alike.

Gradually, Farnham began to assert some control. When quick ball is available this back division are capable of some terrific pace and flair. Olly Brown is settling in at scrum half and Toby Salmon, the man of the match, is turning into a real find at fly-half. This, backed by Corlett and Michael Salmon in the centre with a back three of Hurley, Comley and Digby, offers pace and handling to capitalise. Why then did it not happen?

Dubious offside lines enabled Eastleigh to stifle the attacks which annoyingly made the match a sterile, mistake-ridden affair. There were highlights, of course, but two tries from Farnham was scant reward for the pressure applied. Eastleigh were limited but doughty. They refused to buckle and fought hard to the end. Some among the home faithful were predicting an away win by the death.

After an exchange of penalties which were both missed – yes, it was a dismal day for the kickers as well – Farnham put together the phases and struck for the line. A chip and chase by Toby Salmon was held up on the line, but the scrappy clearance from Eastleigh gave Farnham the opportunity at the lineout to catch and drive with Ben Adams in control to claim the try. An easy conversion for skipper Mike Salmon gave Farnham a 7-0 lead.

Another unsuccessful penalty exchange occurred before Farnham broke wide through Dave Hurley, with Toby Comley in support. But it was all too keen and the referee adjudged a pass to have gone forward and a glaring opportunity for a try had gone.

Back come the home forwards with Joris and Davidson to the fore to win a succession of penalties and Michael Salmon took the points on offer to give Farnham a 10-0 half-time lead.

A try apiece sums up the second half. Try as they did both sides seemed to cancel each other out. The referee struggled to manage the dark arts of the breakdown and so contributed to the sterility and misunderstanding that beset the match.

On the hour, Eastleigh enjoyed their best period and had four drives at the line. The fifth was telling as the unconverted try was scored to reduce Farnham’s lead to 10-5. A frenetic, battling last 20 minutes livened up both sets of supporters before Toby Salmon scampered 80 metres, evading desperate defence for a last-minute try to seal the points.

A win is a win be it ugly, untidy or scrappy.