WINCHESTER 32, FARNHAM 43

FARNHAM showed true competitive spirit in their penultimate league game of the season to wear down bottom side Winchester at their North Walls ground.

The city club, staring down the relegation trapdoor, scored six tries in a valiant display, only to come up short against Farnham who could afford the luxury of trying some champagne rugby as they fought to finish either fourth or fifth in London 2SW. It would be their highest ever league position.

Winchester played at pace down the slight slope and built momentum through their back row. Flanker Matt Golding made the incisive charge and quick ball sent Tom Forster plunging over wide out for an early try.

Winchester were warming to the task and Guy Mahwood scampered away to the corner after an outrageous dummy. Again the conversion was missed, but Farnham already had 10 points to make up.

The visitors’ response was a superb team breakout featuring James Corlett, Steve Simmons and Pete Daly before the youthful 43-year-old, Jemi Akin-Olugbade, steamed up the wing to claim the five points.

Farnham now had the upper hand and with Winchester penalised in front of their posts, Toby Salmon reduced the deficit to two points. Another penalty to Farnham and Salmon flighted the ball into the home 22. The lineout secured, winger Joe Wigmore zipped over under the posts, Salmon’s boot increasing the lead to 15-10.

From the kick-off, however, James Franklin was sin-binned for dissent and it was Winchester’s turn to kick to the corner and win the lineout. Golding charged down an attempted clearance and followed through to score; 15-15.

And Farnham found themselves behind again as Ben Turner offloaded to Mahwood who showed scorching pace before leaving the ritual touchdown under the posts for Turner.

Mahwood converted this bonus-point fourth try, but back came the visitors as half-time approached and Daly was unstoppable from a five-metre scrum. Toby Salmon added the extras and it was all to play for at 22-22.

The next score was going to be pivotal and the second half provided a riveting spectacle for the crowd. After a 15-minute deadlock, Farnham moved in front again as Daly wrestled his way through three tacklers to score his second try, Salmon Jnr converting.

Farnham were never behind again, but the Hampshire side fought to the finish and cut the deficit to two points as wing Alex Bayliss scored within moment of coming on.

With the game in the balance, Bayliss went from hero to zero as a yellow card for killing the ball was turned to red after words addressed to the referee.

Within minutes, replacement scrum-half Oli Whetton scored a fine individual try and Salmon’s conversion put Farnham two scores ahead at 36-27.

With the clock running down, Winchester’s 14 men made another mighty effort and a team try, finished by Kier Garner, put them just four points adrift.

Farnham resisted attack after attack as their depleted opponents gave it everything, but gaps were there to exploit and a breathtaking encounter was finally settled when Michael Salmon and Corlett combined to send Toby Comley over out wide.

Toby Salmon slammed over a difficult conversion and Winchester’s fate was sealed. Had they had performed like this for most of the season, they would surely have survived.

Farnham President’s Podium Points: Simmons 3, Daly 2, Akin-Olugbade 1.

Farnham, who can still finish fourth, visit Andover – desperate to avoid the drop – in their final fixture this Saturday.