FARNHAM 36, BASINGSTOKE 20

POWERHOUSE Pete Daly was back in the side as Farnham opened their London 3 SW campaign with an eye-catching win against Basingstoke at Monkton Lane.

This was a new local derby, Farnham never having played Basingstoke at first-team level before. The Hampshire club, founded in 1948, have always been ‘up the leagues’, scaling the heights to National League 4 during the 1990s.

Certainly the strongest club in Hampshire for many years, they have recently lost their way somewhat, dropping three divisions in three seasons.

They mean to stop the rot this season, but on Saturday came up against a powerful Farnham line-up which included Daly, returning from Esher, and newcomers Luke Batten, formerly of Bracknell, and winger Rory Pringle.

With cricket washed out, the crowd had swelled to 200-plus by kick-off and the game began in wet and breezy conditions.

Farnham’s game-plan was clear: smash out through number 8 Daly and the Williams pair, Ian and Dan, with Luke Batten on the charge; then recycle and work the phases.

Three early scrums showed Farnham in the ascendancy through Jules Joris, Lenny Jennings and Andy Naisbitt in the front row, while Toby Comley covered every blade of grass at 7.

Handling was difficult in the rain and early spillages resulted in a high scrum count. But as the ball began to stick, so Farnham took a grip on the match. After a crossfield break by skipper Mike Salmon, the ball passed through centres James Corlett and Ed Weeks to Toby Salmon who sped away from a flat-footed defence to touch down out wide.

The conversion attempt smacked against the post, but Farnham were rampant for 20 minutes. Another flowing move was started by scrum-half Oli Brown and winger Dave Hurley and Comley combined to send Toby Salmon over for his second try and this time brother Michael added the extras.

From the kick-off, Daly burst through three tackles to feed Batten who instigated a chip-and-chase and Weeks outstripped everyone to dot down. Salmon Snr converted and Farnham led 19-0.

The bonus-point try that effectively settled the game again came from deep. Mike Salmon made ground through the centre, Pringle carried it on and mazy footwork from Comley concluded a superb team score; 24-0 on 37 minutes.

Farnham’s collective foot came off the pedal at that point and Basingstoke, after their mauling, suddenly began to dictate play through half-backs Ed Malaby and Dave Lambert. The latter broke away out wide and put second row Robbie Northcote over for an unconverted try, pulling it back to 24-5 at half-time.

Early in the second half, there was a delay while Basingstoke’s replacement prop, Oli John, received treatment after taking a knee to the head (he took no further part in the game). The wait appeared to benefit Farnham and a fluid move put Corlett over unopposed for another five points.

But that signalled the end of Farnham’s flamboyant, expansive play. Basingstoke grit was partly the cause, while Farnham’s changes in the backs, moving Toby Salmon to centre, also disrupted the flow.

The Basingstoke back row of Tom Allen, Jon Bird and the impressive Simon Appleby began to rule the roost. Tom Humberstone and Appleby scored in quick succession and the visitors were now two scores behind at 29-15.

A turgid period followed as six scrums were contested on the Basingstoke five-metre line, all scrappy, all disrupted legally or otherwise. The referee finally lost patience and awarded Farnham a penalty try in front of the posts. The conversion stretched the lead to 36-15.

The smooth-running Lambert had the last word for Basingstoke, powering over out wide for a deserved bonus-point try of their own.

The middle hour of the match had seen Farnham at their very best. It augers well for the long campaign ahead.

Farnham President’s Podium Points: Toby Salmon 3, Pete Daly 2, Toby Comley 1.

Farnham: Naisbitt, Jennings, Joris, I Williams, Batten, D Williams, Comley, Daly, Brown, T Salmon, Pringle, Corlett, Weeks, Hurley, M Salmon. Replacements: Franklin, Trodden, Freshwater.

Farnham travel to Millbrook this Saturday.