Three matches, three wins – Farnham have made the perfect start to their league campaign and proudly head the division.

On Saturday, Farnham faced one of their sternest tests against London Irish Amateur. The fixture had been eagerly awaited ever since Farnham heard of their old friends and foes' promotion last season.

In fact, it was not a day to admire flowing, running rugby, but one to keep the supporters of good club rugby on their toes, and out of the bar.

The game was always going to be a close one. The last time the sides met, Farnham were victors on the same pitch by just one point in the 2000/2001 title race.

Farnham had good pressure for five minutes, but were unable to penetrate the Irish back line. This lack of penetration has been a problem of late (no doubt to be resolved by Messrs Gray and Bond on the training ground). A quick break by the visitors had Farnham struggling in defence and Irish kicked a penalty to go ahead.

Farnham spoiled any good work with indiscipline, incurring penalties, but forced a penalty of their own after 15 minutes, and Simon Lewis levelled the scores before the home team pushed ahead with the first try of the game.

A turnover gave Irish the chance to clear, but Matt Payne charged the kick down and managed to gather the ball. Faced with five defenders, he still managed to create space before passing out wide to the left where Adam Christie was pounding along. Having drawn three men, the big prop offloaded to Joe Brown who dashed over for the score. But Irish were quick to respond and overturned the 3-8 deficit within 10 minutes, scoring a well-worked try on the right.

On the stroke of half-time, they scored again and looked good value for their 15-8 lead.

Farnham had better control of the game in the second half, although they gained less territory.

Irish often looked dangerous, but Farnham's outstanding player of the early season, Richard Doran, brought his side back into contention with a superb try from a good set play, and a perfectly timed Payne off-load. The powerful Doran broke several tackles before falling wearily over the line, close to the posts, for a try that was converted.

The game could have gone either way in the last 15 minutes, but it was Farnham, showed the advantages of increased fitness, who were the aggressors during this critical period.

Many phases of play were ended prematurely by the shrill blast of the referee's whistle, denying the crowd a better spectacle.

Anyway, the conclusive try came with five minutes to go. Farnham's rolling maul broke down, but prop Sid Cranstone, filling in at scrum-half, delivered the ball to Christie. After a couple of sidesteps and the odd hand-off, Christie was felled, but managed to squirt a bouncing pass to the safe hands of Ed Walters who fought off a strong challenge to finish in the left corner.

The conversion was missed and the Irish mounted one last charge at the Farnham defence which stood tall until the final whistle.