Farnham, after suffering a damaging defeat at Old Paulines a fortnight before, responded in the best possible way on Saturday.

They amassed a club record scoreline in thrashing Old Walcountians 83-0 in their penultimate league match, scoring 13 tries in the process.

And the boost to Farnham's 'points for' column could prove crucial as they chase promotion from Surrey Division One.

Walcountians, lying third from bottom in the division, could not contain a highly-charged Farnham pack and, having held their hosts to a relatively respectable 28-0 scoreline at the 50-minute mark, caved in to the enormous pressure of the forwards and clinical finishing of the three-quarters.

Within five minutes, Nigel Rooney had kicked a penalty. Soon, the in-form Simon Lewis spotted an overlap on the distant right wing and spiralled a perfectly weighted kick to the corner. Wing Ian Parker chased the ball ahead of the OW's covering defence and touched down for the first try.

Three more tries followed, plus one more penalty and one conversion from Rooney before the break and, at the whistle, Farnham were very much in command.

Walcountians had mounted a few breaks of their own and one move looked particularly dangerous until full-back Rupert Mitchell intercepted with an exocet tackle within spitting distance of the line.

Typical of Farnham's drives was a maul that rolled for a while before the ball was spun to the backs and through the quick hands of Rooney and Lewis. The centres took crash ball which was recycled and a scrum was eventually given to the attacking side.

From five metres, the pack heaved their opposition over the line to leave Ian Holwill with the task of applying downward pressure on the ball for the score, a feat he achieved four times.

Holwill gave the outstanding performance of the day with his fearless charging in the loose, as well as the four tries.

Farnham scored nine tries in the second half, five of which were converted by Rooney.

With the Wrecclesham pitch cutting up and the players left even more soaked and mud-splattered than usual, Farnham have been unable to identify all scorers of the 13 tries – such was the bewildering speed that points were accumulated in the second half.

This may be poignant for the try-scorers themselves. Suffice to say that it was the performance of the team as a unit, of the 15 men that were on the pitch at any given time, that led to this remarkable scoreline.

The forwards worked together supremely well and the backs spun the ball with a confidence that has been lacking in the last two matches. It all went to produce this stunning result.

Simon France should be singled out for his tireless running in the loose, punching holes and setting and winning countless rucks.

Credit must also go to Old Walcountians, who, despite the mountain of points massing against them, continued to attack where possible. And it was only due to Mitchell again and Andy Rigg on the left wing that they were denied a consolation try at the death.

If Farnham finish runners-up, they will face a play-off against the side that comes second in Hants Div I, either Farnborough or Trojans.

Farnham: Adams, Harding, Cranstone, France, Baker, Falkiner, Ogram, Holwill, Rooney, Lewis, Rigg, Payne, Doran, Parker, Mitchell. Subs: Mortimore, Campbell, Christie.