Farnham 37pts, Gosport & Fareham 8pts

Gosport and Fareham, one of Hampshire’s premier clubs, is a difficult fixture for Farnham – but not this time.

A stiff wind off the Solent and rain generally play their part at their harbour-side ground, so the still, chilly conditions on Saturday suited the Surrey side just fine.

The young referee, a former University of the Creative Arts student, started proceedings. Farnham lost the corresponding fixture 20-11 on a windy, rainswept day in September, and the black and whites were determined to put things right and immediately went on the rampage. Ball retention was the plan and 17 accurate phases later the Farnham boys managed to spill the ball on the Gosport five-metre line.

After this bright start, Farnham were untidy in the early stages of the match and were pushed back by the Hampshire XV. The pressure told, and a penalty was awarded to Gosport for some skullduggery by the home defence which provided an easy three points for Holling.

Farnham responded immediately with a breakout which covered the length of the pitch. The ball was swept out to left wing Reece Stennet who made 40 metres before quick hands through Michael Salmon, the man of the match, and James Corlett freed up the ubiquitous Toby Comley for the first score for Farnham. And the 5-3 lead was a lead that was never surrendered.

The Farnham boys were beginning to blow the Christmas cobwebs away and another breakout saw fly-half Toby Salmon bounce through four tackles to slide over out wide. The writing was on the wall for Gosport as Farnham were starting to rumble.

Farnham’s No8, Rob Mitchell, stole the ball under the posts to end a determined Gosport attack, and a monster clearance by Toby Salmon took play back to the halfway line. Ben Adams snaffled the ball at the Gosport lineout to free up the backs, and the pressure proved too much for the Hampshire boys, who conceded a penalty. A well-orchestrated catch and drive allowed Farnham skipper Ollie Brown to plunge over for the score and pad the home side’s lead at 15-3.

Back came Gosport, their rangy second rower Woodford enjoying good lineout ball. Success at two catch and drives threatened the home try line. However, the Farnham blitz defence turned over the Gosport drive and hammered through the phases to win a penalty in the Gosport 22. Sensing blood, the Farnham boys went for the jugular and kicked for the corner and, from the ensuing lineout, hooker Ben Brown plunged over for the bonus point try and a 20-3 lead with the five points seemingly secure at half-time.

The attritional second half showed the intensity of the rugby at this level. Gosport, determined throughout, threw everything at Farnham. However, their inside pop-pass tactic was both readable and stoppable and the home wraparound defence stood firm.

Farnham’s front row of Marco Azevedo, Ben Brown and Andy Coutts dominated the Hampshire boys around the fringes, at the scrum and in open play while the pairing of Ben Adams and Steve Simmons in the row gave the home scrum much-needed balance.

As Gosport put in their umpteenth phase of attack, eventual man of the match Michael Salmon stole the ball at the breakdown and sprinted 50 metres for the try. Brother Toby added the extras and the lead was 27-3.

But Gosport’s pride ensured they wouldn’t fold and wave upon wave crashed onto the Farnham red zone – the 22-metre area where chances are made only to be battered back. The Farnham defence was defiant. The wraparound organised and the trusted blitz defence snuffed out the Hampshire marauders.

Eventually Farnham broke out and young flying winger Reece Stennett made 40 metres before transferring inside to Toby Salmon. Momentum built, Ollie Brown was on hand to free up Corlett who, with the help of the back row of Comley, Mitchell and Welch, split Gosport’s defence apart and went over for a superb team try as they lead was opened up to 32-3.

True spirit from Gosport & Fareham saw them show their mettle by driving into the home 22. The referee was unimpressed with a Ben Jones body check and, after a lengthy lecture, showed the yellow card to the talented full-back. Farnham, down to 14 men, were under the cosh at the penalty scrum and quick ball for Gosport saw winger Taylor over for a consolation try, cutting the arrears to 32-8.

Farnham, desperate for the marquee finish, battled back and another full-length attack saw hooker Ben Brown over the try line out wide for his pair. The rust and cobwebs had been blown away and the persistent and determined Gosport boys eventually put away 37-8.