Farnham confirm London SW3 Championship in 68-0 romp After the Annual Sportsmans Lunch and British Lion and Wales scrum half Rob Howley the Farnham Rugby Legions were treated to another rugby spectacular against the Old Mid Whitgiftians (OMW) at Monkton Lane on Saturday. The mini section set the tone with some superb competitions against their Chobham and Alton rivals in front of a huge home crowd. The weather was perfect and the spring sunshine livened many of the previous days revellers. The scene was set. The 1st XV had celebrated the championship victory the day before and were determined to put on an appropriate end of season performance and farewell party for departing scrum half Ben Rubio. Recovery was orchestrated by Coach Matt Kemp - an RFU fitness session on the training pitch followed by a Pasta Lunch in the vast marquee set up by John Wickens and Co for the previous days superb Sportsmans Annual Occasion. Any lingering doubts were cast aside as the Champions took to the field through a guard of honour of Farnham Minis proudly waving their black and white flags to the Rolling Stones Start me Up. Farnham started with a strong breeze at their backs kicking towards the Bouncy Castle End of the pitch. Were their game heads on? Knock ons and forward passes were the order of the day as the team began to find their feet and, importantly, heads. The Black and White storm was about to bring fruition - a line-out on the visitors 5 metre line and the ball driven on by the home pack - the scorer Dean Chiverton - the only squad member not to score this season - the omens were good. The crowd of 400 waited and a sumptuous chip from Ben Rubio allowed Gabe Hills to score his 31st try of the season. With Mike Salmon taking over the kicking duties Farnham were starting to rumble at 12-0. Perhaps the celebrations had taken their toll as the game turned into a scrappy, mistake ridden affair for the mid portion of the first half. OMWs are a young fit outfit with an experienced prop corner stoning their pack. They had come to play. A breakout by Farnham after a series of attacks saw Pete Daly kick ahead, the subsequent scrum and the back row drove for the line - Buster Bond emerging as the scorer - a Salmon conversion and 19-0 at half time. The changing room is sacrosanct and at half time the team seniors and Coach Matt Kemp had a collective rethink - the last half of a successful season. Concentrate and start playing the rugby you are all capable of. The Storm arrived. Handling and pace onto the ball improved and in quick succession prop Lenny Jennings smashed over for a try under the posts, and then a superb break by centre Ed Weekes released Mike Salmon to cruise over unopposed. Skipper Toby Comley, who has enjoyed a tremendous season, used his pace to outfox the opposition. 40-0 after just ten minutes of the second half. The Championship Party had started as Gabe Hills was freed up to sprint to the posts popping the ball to Ben Rubio for his Farewell Try and Conversion. Game heads were back on and sheer pace and handling exposed the doughty OMW defence. Centres Mike Salmon and Ed Weekes dominated the final 10 minutes adding a further three tries between them. Salmon ending proceedings with the final kick to take his tally to 26 points in the game. Bringing to a close a superb season of rugby and a well deserved Championship for the second year in a row. The Squad deserved this spectacular send off - anchored by a front five of Jennings, Chiverton and Kelleher backed by Simmons and Franklin in the engine room they gradually reduced the visitors power to eventually decimate any tight ball. The Back row of Bond and Daly with Man of the match Jason Crabb were released to support the superb prompting of half backs Ollie Brown and Rubio. Power, Speed and superior fitness have been the basis of this superb season and levels of all three will need to be ramped up for next years Division 2 campaign. For the time being let us us celebrate and embrace a new era of Farnham Rugby. Well done Boys
Posted on: Sat, 12 Apr 2014 19:08:40 +0000
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