AYLESFORD BULLS 3, FARNHAM 42

FARNHAM fielded a new-look side for their first ever trip to Aylesford in Kent for this RFU Senior Vase second-round match.

It took the visitors some time to tame the Bulls, who prop up the London 3SE table after losing eight matches in a row.

After just missing out on promotion last season, Aylesford lost their best players to bigger neighbouring clubs. They are currently a young side, bolstered by old heads in the pack and at centre.

Both the players and their supporters enjoy the game and there was no doubting the team spirit on the field. But poor handling and decision-making explained their plight in the league.

Farnham gave debuts to Reece Stennett (proud dad and former first-team coach Gary was looking on), Cameron Armstrong and Tom Kelly, while keeping fellow Academy products Jordan Frost and Ben Jones in the side.

New combinations are bound to have teething problems, and so it proved. Farnham had Pete Daly moving to second row to partner James Franklin and a back row of Dan Williams, Jason Crabb and Frost, but the power from the pack never reached the intensity seen in the league.

The miserable weather didn’t help and the under-assessment referee didn’t exactly allow the game to flow. Six penalties were shared between the sides for similarly confusing lineout offences. A get-together of all 16 forwards to explain his requirements would surely have helped the situation. Props looking nonplussed is not a pretty sight.

The first quarter was forgettable, with some good phases of play spoilt by a woeful final pass or a fumble at the base of the ruck or scrum.

But Farnham are fortunate to have game-breakers throughout the team and despite having 60 to 70 per cent possession, Aylesford never looked like breaching the defence.

Eventually, James Corlett and returning skipper Michael Salmon made inroads and the Surrey side began to string phases together.

Quick ball to Toby Salmon – game-breaker personified – and he scampered 70 metres for the opening try, leaving extras for himself.

On 26 minutes, a revelation for all – the referee liked a lineout. At the ensuing maul, James Trodden burst from the base, on to Andy Naisbitt through the middle with an offload to scrum-half Jones. Try and another simple conversion for Salmon.

In defending the try, Bulls suffered a double blow as flanker and scrum-half collided. A lengthy delay ensued as both were assessed and they departed the fray to sympathetic applause.

The game was meandering again as half-time approached and the first quarter of the second half was a repeat of the first – plentiful ball for the Bulls met by mean Farnham defence.

Daly then reverted to No 8 to balance the set-pieces and increase the power. Farnham were at last on the front foot and the Bulls began to wilt.

Their last foray earned them a penalty and their only points of the game, but their energy levels were dipping and all replacements had been used.

Farnham ran amok in the final 20 minutes. Crabb, back to his best, went over under the posts (Toby Salmon converted) and from the restart Armstrong found Charlie Badgery on the burst before Kelly took play past halfway. Dan Williams then freed up the ever-alert Toby Salmon who romped to the posts and the extras advanced the lead to 28-3.

With no real pressure on them now, Farnham were assured in their handling and support. Another surge by Dan Williams released Lennie Jennings who charged to the line for another converted try.

The floodlights were on and the visiting fans again had something to cheer as Crabb emerged from the drizzle to finish off the final move of the match under the posts to bring a nice symmetry to the score: six tries, all converted by Toby Salmon.

It had taken a while for Farnham to get going, but they finished at a canter. Youngsters Stennett, Ben Jones, Frost and Kelly, plus UCA student Armstrong, will surely have gained vital experience for the league and cup games ahead.

Farnham’s podium points: Jason Crabb 3, James Corlett 2, Dan Williams 1.

Farnham resume their London 3SW programme with an away fixture against Weybridge this Saturday.