FARNHAM 53, BOGNOR 0

FARNHAM’S known hospitality did not extend to the field as they inflicted a heavy defeat on promoted Bognor at Monkton Lane.

The seaside club have a mountain to climb after a third straight bruising defeat in London 3 SW. Farnham’s dominance was such that the visitors did not manage one attempt at goal. It was also Farnham’s first clean sheet in two seasons.

Dan Williams, Toby Comley and Pete Daly were all unavailable, but the revamped back row of Jonny Davidson, Jason Crabb and Andrew Bond took the game by the scruff of the neck.

It was all a bit rushed and untidy for 15 minutes, but then Farnham began to flow and Jemi Akin-Olugbade sent fly-half Toby Salmon over for the first try.

Mike Salmon missed the conversion in the tricky breeze, but Bognor were rocking and disrupted ball at the scrum from their own put-in enabled flanker Davidson to charge down the attempted clearance and scrum-half Oli Brown fell on the loose ball to score.

A slack final pass or poor decision-making spoiled much of Farnham’s good work and the sizeable crowd grew restless.

Finally, however, the home side managed a fully co-ordinated break-out. Winger Ed Weeks was held up, but Olugbade was on hand to apply the finishing touch.

A sweeping attack from the restart completely dismissed the Bognor rearguard and Bond opened his account for the season with a close-range try. Skipper Mike Salmon converted and, leading 22-0, Farnham had a bonus point in the bag by half-time.

Farnham served up a feast of attacking rugby in the second half. Lenny Jennings set up a driving maul and, out of nowhere, replacement prop John Trodden sprinted 35 metres to touch down.

Bognor, trailing 29-0 refused to capitulate, but were struggling to get out of their 22. As the penalties mounted, a yellow card added to the visitors’ problems. From the resulting kick to the corner, Farnham executed their favoured catch-and-drive over the line and a smiling Davison emerged with the ball from the bottom of the pile.

The quickening pace was too much for Bognor. The Salmon brothers broke dangerously and Michael’s telescopic stretch earned yet another try, his conversion increasing the lead to 41-0.

Davidson, the man of the match, broke away to score a deserved try under the posts – easy conversion for Salmon – and with the referee checking his watch, Toby Salmon received the final kick-off and slalomed his way through to score the best try of the game.

Farnham’s Podium Points: Jonny Davidson 3 pts; Jemi Akin-Olugbade 2; Toby Salmon 1.

Farnham, the early London 3 SW leaders on points difference from Eastleigh, visit Trojans this Saturday. The Southampton side recorded their first win of the season last weekend, beating United Services 39-21.