CAMBERLEY 22, FARNHAM 15

CAMBERLEY avenged one of only two league defeats this season with a bonus-point win over Farnham in a pulsating local derby at Watchetts .

It was a well-deserved victory for the London 3SW leaders, based on an electrifying first 16 minutes when Farnham were simply swept aside.

But ‘Cam’, having claimed their four-try bonus point within half-an-hour, relaxed at their peril as Farnham rallied to secure a losing bonus point with the last kick of the game.

On a cold, but fine day, with the going ‘good to soft’, Farnham were forced to make changes, which meant opportunities for Academy tyro Jordon Frost in the second row and a reshuffled back row of Jonny Davidson, Will Markham and Fran Meagher. Toby Comley played at full-back and captain in place of the hamstrung Mike Salmon.

Camberley, sent back home with their tails between their legs back in October, were fired up for the return match and both sides enjoyed rousing support, not least because Farnham had also brought their 2nd XV (Camberley won 31-19) and Vets side (Farnham won 34-0) on this true derby day.

Two minutes in and the leaders were trundling towards the Farnham try-line after a catch-and-drive. Almost impossible to halt legally and Jono Elvin duly scored wide out. The signs were not good for Farnham.

They began to make inroads, but fell foul of the referee and penalties abounded at the breakdown.

Another Camberley catch-and-drive ate up the yards and fast hands from their confident half-backs sent Ash Wright over for the second try with only 12 minutes gone. Tom Dunn’s conversion attempt hit the post.

Farnham tried desperately to break the shackles, but a speculative miss-pass was picked off by the predatory home centres and Ash Wright gratefully touched down under the posts. Dunn added the conversion and it was 17-0 after 14 minutes. Farnham had a mountain to climb.

With the travelling supporters muttering about ‘cricket scores’, Farnham had further setbacks as niggling injuries to Will Markham and Elliott Rich brought on replacements Reece de Gruchy and Luke Jermyn. Both, in fact, did well and Farnham began to get going, with Davidson, Meagher and de Gruchy putting a brake on a free-flowing three-quarter line.

However, Camberley had the chill wind at their backs and their purple patch was not quite over. On 30 minutes, a slick move from a lineout saw the ball passed wide to Phil Cresswell who dived over in the corner for the fourth try; 22-0.

It had been a torrid first half for the visitors, but the signs of a revival were already there and, now with the considerable wind advantage, they began the second period strongly.

Toby Salmon, Farnham’s man of the match, probed both with ball in hand and with a series of raking kicks and the home defence began to creak.

Seven minutes in, Farnham’s own catch-and-drive released Ollie Brown and via James Corlett and rapid handling the ball reached Jemi Akin-Olugbade who powered through the gap to score under the posts. Easy extras for Salmon and Farnham were on the scoreboard.

Still forcing the pace, Farnham had a try disallowed and other promising attacks driven back by an excellent defence.

With time fast running out, Farnham missed a penalty and Camberley, clearing their lines, forced their way back to the opposing 22.

However, the ball was snaffled up by Salmon who wrestled his way through four tackles before freeing up wing Ed Weeks and on to Jermyn whose pop pass inside sent Toby Comley over for a superb 80-metre breakaway try.

Ten points adrift, a rampaging Farnham kept Camberley pegged back and another score would have made it really interesting. But again the leaders’ defence held firm and although Salmon slotted over a penalty for a valuable bonus point, it was with the last action of the game.