Old Tonbridgians 12pts, Farnham 18pts

AFTER the skills and thrills of England’s win over the All Blacks last Saturday morning, there was different fare on offer in the afternoon on the back pitches at Richmond Athletic Ground when Old Tonbridgians hosted Farnham in London 2 South West.

Non-stop rain, a strong cross-field wind and Old Tonbridgians playing in a change strip blagged off fellow old boys side Wellingtonians ensured this would be no spectacle. Nevertheless, Farnham pinched the win.

The hosts would say they didn’t make the most of their dominance of possession and field position. The Farnham faithful, while humming the tune to the The Great Escape, were once again fulsome in their praise of their team’s dogged defence.

With talisman No8 Robbie Mitchell and ace try poacher Gabe Hills injured and watching from the side line, the Farnham starting XV side had a different look. There was the welcome return of Andy Naisbitt at prop – but perhaps a little early as the Farnham pack were shoved backward in the initial series of the many set scrums. His fellow prop, Jules Joris, made his tackles and carried as effectively as ever. However, Ben Brown, at hooker struggled to find his lineout target and with Marco Azevedo starting in unfamiliar territory in the row alongside Ben Adams, the set piece simply didn’t function – at least in the first half.

Thus, with a great deal of ball, Old Tonbridgians mounted attack after attack, and were it not for the work around the fringes from flankers Toby Comley and Andrew Kidd, they would have racked up a score. But No 8 Liam Welch carried hard, tackled hard and competed furiously on the deck to spoil many an Old Tonbridgians attack.

The back line also had a different look. Skipper and regular nine Ollie Brown was on unfamiliar ground at full back while Harry West fulfilled the role at scrum half. Ollie was secure under the high ball and made his tackles, and when the team realigned in the second period and he returned to scrum half, there was some of the zip back in the Farnham attack.

The familiar pairing of the Salmon brothers, Toby and Michael, at ten and 12 provided solidity in the midfield. Toby made the most of the scraps he was given and relieved a great deal of pressure with his kicks out of hand and, crucially, racked up the points from the tee. Michael, as ever, with little opportunity to attack, was fierce in defence – too much so according to the referee who showed him a yellow card for dangerous play in the second half – a decision that left all 30 players as well as the touchline somewhat bemused.

Dec Kavanaugh, at outside centre, opened the scoring for Farnham. An early, and subsequently rare, foray by Farnham into the Old Tonbridgians 22 was kicked clear by their full back to Reece Stennett. He took the ball just outside the Farnham 22 on the left wing and with time and space to pick his line, he used all his running skills and pace to carve the defence open and, as the cover tackle arrived, he popped the ball to Kavanaugh, running the perfect support line, to go in out wide on the right for a 5-0 lead.

While the Old Tonbridgians forwards dominated the set piece, a vital advantage on such a wet and windy day, the Farnham backs always looked more dangerous with break outs from their own 22 being the main attack weapon. One such flowing Farnham attack was halted illegally and from the tee Toby Salmon extended the lead to 8-0 after just ten minutes of play.

But the signs up front were ominous. Old Tonbridgians had the territory and a succession of pick and drives by their bulky forwards took them over out wide to cut the lead to 8-5. And soon after, the Farnham pack conceded a penalty at the set scrum and Old Tonbridgians kicked to the corner from where they pummelled over from the lineout maul. The conversion was good and the hosts led 12-8 at half time.

Early in the second half, Farnham won a kickable penalty. However, the diminutive posts on this back pitch made it hard for the touch judges to determine if Toby Salmon’s effort was good and after much discussion, it was determined a miss. Brother Mike was then forced to sit out for ten minutes and Farnham were under the cosh. But with 14 men, they defend from their five-metre line heroically.

And poor decision making saw Old Tonbridgians squander a number of chances.

Thanks, in the main, to Toby Salmon’s accurate and deep clearance kicks, Farnham found themselves in the Old Tonbridgians half and for once in the game allowed their attack drills to do the talking. Toby Salmon wriggled and writhed his way through to put the defence on the back foot. More eager runners made ground and from the base of the rucks Brown fizzed the ball first right and then left creating the space for Azevedo to power over. Toby added the conversion as Farnham poked their noses in front 15-12.

As well as scoring his try, Azevedo was moved to the front row to replace Naisbitt and some order was restored to the set scrum with Connor Hayes on for an excellent shift in the row.

The Farnham coaches brought on the other finishers to see out the game, with Sam Woodhams on for Andrew Kidd at six and Dave Flower in at centre for Kavanaugh.

Despite the fresh legs, the hosts kept the pressure on and Farnham’s defence continued to be tested. But another break-out put Farnham on the Old Tonbridgians 22 – this time by Tom Cerullo who, like Stennett on the other wing, kept the cover defence on their toes all game. And Farnham were awarded a key penalty for a high tackle and Toby Salmon sealed the win.

*Farnham Vikings (2nd XV) beat neighbours Camberley 20-17 while the Warriors (3rd XV) won comfortably at Lightwater 37-12.