TONBRIDGIANS 34, FARNHAM 33

NEW year, same old story as Farnham suffered a heartbreaking defeat, Old Tonbridgians snatching victory with the last kick of the match.

It was a very familiar scenario: a game of two halves, some scintillating tries, Farnham losing by a single point. “How many more times?” was the question asked by the Farnham faithful as they left Richmond RFC, the ground rented by the old boys of Tonbridge School.

The omens were perhaps not good as a lack of organisation by the host side forced Farnham to play the London 2SW fixture in their change strip.

Their starting line-up was also unfamiliar. In the absence of James Corlett and Ed Weeks, Andrew Freshwater played at number 10, with the Salmon brothers at centre.

There other changes too, but the concentration of ball-playing talent in midfield promised to create space for the side’s speedsters.

The pitch was firm underfoot, but the opening exchanges were scrappy. Tonbridgians punished an error to score first, but Farnham were quick to reply.

Jack Scullion, who kicked well out of hand all day, found the corner again, the lineout worked, and after a series of surges from the base of the ruck, Jemi Akin-Olugbade burrowed over. Toby Salmon missed the conversion and it was 5-5 after 25 minutes.

Within two minutes, OTs scored a carbon-copy of their earlier try, only this time converted, after Farnham failed to gather the restart and knocked on.

There followed an extraordinary passage of play and Farnham were left deeply frustrated after pounding the try-line and winning penalties, only to have three tries disallowed – Olugbade was adjudged to be held up after forcing his way over, Elliot Rich was deemed to have put a foot in touch before scoring in the corner and after Pete Daly had strolled over, the referee pulled play back for an OT free-kick. The language was choice amongst the visiting spectators.

Just to rub it in, OTs at last broke out and after charging down Toby Salmon’s hurried clearance kick, scored another converted try. And before the break, the home team’s big but mobile loose-head prop, sporting delightful pink socks, offloaded for his supporting back row forward to cross over under the posts.

With no clubhouse to retire to, both sides formed a huddle against the wind, Farnham trailing 5-24.

OTs restarted by kicking the ball straight into touch and Farnham, encouraged, attacked with a series of fast and furious pick-and-goes to put skipper Andy Naisbitt over. A simple kick for Salmon Jnr.

Farnham promptly conceded a penalty for not releasing, but the visitors soon came again and, from a scrum, a training ground miss-move created the space for Toby Salmon to cross over, the extras further reducing the deficit to 19-27. Game on!

OTs were feeling the pressure and again the kick-off went straight into touch. Farnham got the shove on in the scrum and were denied a likely penalty try, the referee deciding to reset.

Unbowed, Daly picked up from the base of the ensuing scrum and released Toby Salmon for another converted try; the Tonbridge lead cut to one point.

The visitors had some defending to do as OTs rallied, and they did it well before taking the lead for the first time.

Toby Salmon’s wind-assisted kick bounced down the slope and Rich ran a wonderful line to take the ball into the heart of the 22.

Farnham then disrupted Tonbridgians’ own lineout, Daly won the turnover, and after several phases, Toby Comley burst through to dot down under the posts. Salmon converted and Farnham had the chance to close the game out at 33-27.

Cool heads were required, but Farnham were not cool. Errors handed the initiative back to their opponents and OTs took a quick tap penalty to spin the ball wide and score in the corner.

So Farnham led 33-32 and the conversion attempt was the last action of the game. Kicking from the touchline and into the breeze, the OTs number 14 held his nerve and split the posts.

Two bonus points was scant consolation for another agonising defeat, but, in truth, Farnham lost the game in the first half when a combination of lineout misses, scrum pressure and players out of position in the backs let Tonbridge in for some soft scores.

This Saturday, Farnham entertain London Exiles at Monkton Lane. Exiles lost the earlier fixture, but have since chalked up some notable victories and are fifth to Farnham’s sixth in the league table.

Farnham President’s Podium points: Toby Comley 3, Toby Salmon 2, Andy Naisbitt 1.