FARNHAM 12, TROJANS 14 (London 3SW)

THE dressing-room told the story – heads bowed, some furious, some battered, all disappointed. Farnham had been pipped by a Trojans side who both managed the conditions and played to their not inconsiderable strengths.

Playing into the teeth of a gale-force wind at Monkton Lane, Farnham needed to retain possession and prevent Trojans putting boot to ball.

That was the plan and Farnham stuck to it, but the Eastleigh side still managed some ground-eating kicks as their scrum began to rumble.

It was cat-and-mouse stuff. Farnham made close-supporting drives, with Ian Williams, Andy Naisbitt and Ben Adams to the fore, but mistakes were inevitable in the conditions and back came Trojans.

A five-metre scrum resulted, Farnham’s pack creaked and Trojans transferred the ball out wide for Jake Bailey to cross over for a try that was converted by Dan Woods.

With rain now whipping across the pitch, handling errors were rife and the scrum became the key area as the heavier Trojan eight upped the ante. It was never going to be a rugby feast and Trojans hung on grimly to their 7-0 lead at half-time.

Farnham regrouped with the wind now in their favour and the signs were good as Oli Brown began to boss things and Toby Salmon probed away in midfield.

The equalising try came when full-back Elliott Rich, on the angle at pace, popped a pass for Toby Salmon to score, leaving easy extras for brother Mike.

The pressure was on Trojans, but Farnham failed to use the wind to gain territory. Even so, they got their noses in front. A penalty led to an attacking line-out and quick ball from Toby Comley was driven by Johnny Davidson and James Trodden. After a sniping run by scrum-half Brown, James Corlett got the ball to Mike Salmon who touched down in the corner. No conversion, but Farnham led 12-7.

Now the frustration, and the Trojans backlash. The visitors drove successive mauls for 15 and 20 metres and the penalty count rose. Brown retired with a broken nose, forcing Farnham to re-organise, and they needed to maintain concentration on the restart.

But Trojans made another big drive, got quick ball to the backs and Nik Wotton, their other wing, looped round to score. Woods kicked a vital conversion in the swirling wind and Trojans led 14-12.

Twenty minutes still remained and Trojans countered the conditions with tight driving mauls and pick-and-drives from the scrum, denying Farnham any meaningful possession.

At last, the home forwards drove for the posts and Will Markham was held, illegally ruled the referee, in front of the posts.

The penalty appeared to be a get-out-of-jail card with two minutes to go, but Mike Salmon opted for the quick tap and was stopped short. Scrum to Trojans and they used all their experience to run down the clock.

Old Tiffinians away this week and Farnham badly need a win to lift spirits after three successive defeats.