ANDOVER 20, FARNHAM 64

FARNHAM were rampant in their last game of the season and showed no mercy on Andover who are relegated from London 2 South-West.

In contrast, Farnham’s final fifth position is the highest the club has achieved in its 43-year history.

Farnham have acted as the Grim Reaper for both Andover and Winchester over the last fortnight, consigning both clubs to Division 3 and plundering 107 points in the process.

Conditions at Foxcotte Park were perfect for running, risk-taking rugby and Andover began well down the slope, using their meaty front row as battering rams for ten frenetic minutes, roared on by a sizeable crowd fresh from a vice-presidents’ lunch.

The home heavies rumbled, but Farnham’s defence was solid, with scrum-half Oli Brown barking instructions and massive No 8 Pete Daly flinging bodies aside before clamping his hands on the ball.

Andover’s hopes flickered with an early three points after a maul was collapsed, only to be immediately extinguished by Farnham’s searingly fast, well-supported attacks.

Michael Salmon and Ed Weeks were strong and direct in the centre, backed by straight-running flankers Jonny Davidson and Gianluca da Nardi.

Andover were helpless as Farnham raced to the four-try bonus point in 15 minutes with scores from Joe Wigmore, Weeks, Toby Salmon and Daly. It could have been more, the visitors knocking on over the line and twice being called back for forward passes.

Andover fought back valiantly and an interception try, plus conversion, narrowed the deficit to 10-24. But Farnham continued to throw caution to the wind and Daly crashed over under the posts, trailing half the opposing pack.

Farnham’s young back three, full-back Ben Jones and wings Eliot Rich and Wigmore, showed electric pace, whether in support or decoy running.

Andover were relieved to hold their opponents to 31-15 at the interval, having scored their second try, but were to run out of steam on a warm afternoon.

The formidable coaching team of Gary Stennett and the Harlequins triumvirate of Jamie Salmon, Ross and James Chisholm sent Farnham out with licence to enjoy the last half of the season – and that they did as they ran in a further 33 points.

Daly, driven on by skipper Andy Naisbitt, showed he was not just about bulk, providing a deft off-load at pace to send Weeks over. Another simple conversion for Toby Salmon.

Andover lost a flanker to the sin-bin and it proved to be a long ten minutes for the beleaguered Hampshire side. Penalty to the corner, Ben Adams took yet another off the top and Lennie Jennings and Jules Joris drove for the line, the latter claiming the try.

Replacements joined the party and after James Franklin had smashed through the middle, Jemi Akin-Olugbade went over after a delightful show-and-go. Salmon Jnr’s conversion sent Farnham past the 50.

Then the Salmon brothers were in tandem and Michael’s try was converted by Toby. It was a good day for the pair, with Michael holding on to 11 restarts and Toby scoring seven out of ten with his shots at goal.

As the clock ran down, a defiant Andover fly-hacked their way to a third consolation try, but Farnham had the last word with a mass break-out from their own 22, resulting in a try under the posts for a jubilant Rich.

Regrets? Farnham will have a few. Seven games were lost by a score or less, with 21 points ‘left on the pitch’.

President’s Podium Points: Pete Daly 3, Gianluca da Nardi 2, Toby Salmon 1.