Old Cranleighans 13pts, Farnham 17pts

The games over the last five or so years against Old Cranleighians have always been fast, fierce but fair encounters, close and difficult to call. This one was no different.

A tremendous defensive performance by the Black and Whites defined their win. The standards were set from the first minute as Farnham strung out across the pitch to repel no fewer than 14 phases from the hosts.

Prompted by their classy half backs, Old Cranleighians launched wave after wave throughout the game but Farnham’s first-up tackling was destined to win the day. They varied their attacks through forwards and backs, all at pace with myriad cut-back, switch and miss moves. The number of players that hobbled off the pitch and into the clubhouse highlighted the intensity at which this level of rugby is now played.

After the initial challenges Farnham forced their way into the Old Cranleighians’ 22. Tom Cerullo came in off his wing after a break from man-of-the-match Ben Jones, the home flanker failed to clear away from the tackle and Farnham were awarded a penalty, which was converted by Toby Salmon.

But Old Cranleighians levelled the scores when Farnham’s Steve Simmons was adjudged not have rolled away, leaving the home full back with an easy three points.

Old Cranleighians upped the pace and the Farnham back three of Cerullo, Jones and Reese Stennett had to make last-gasp tackles to keep out the home attacks. Farnham centres Michael Salmon and Alex Chalker relished the contact area and for half an hour the attacks were repeatedly smashed back. But the pressure was beginning to take its toll and after a concentrated multi-phased sweep, the Farnham defence opened up to allow full-back James in for a try out wide despite a desperate double tackle from Stennett and Jordan Frost to put his side ahead 8-3.

Still the penalties mounted and skipper Oli Brown, who had the rare advantage of towering over the referee during their many discussions, did well to keep the lid on proceedings. With half time approaching and after a fierce and furious 40 minutes into the wind, only trailing 8-3 seemed a good return for Farnham.

The second half was a tense affair with Old Cranleighians imprisoned in their own 22 by the wind that had given them the advantage in the first half.

Farnham were perhaps too one dimensional as maul after maul and ruck after ruck were stopped. The front row of Andy Coutts, Lenny Jennings and Jules Joris battered away at the ramparts but the Old Cranleighians defence stood firm.

The referee, however, started to lose patience and after a succession of penalties Farnham completed a series of charges to create a gap which was exploited by the elusive skills of Toby Salmon. He went in under the posts and with an easy conversion Farnham led 10-8.

There has always been much riding on this contest. According to local sources, this was the strongest team Old Cranleighians had fielded this season – the performance making a mockery of their ninth position in the league. And so they battled their way into the visitors’ half and phase after phase culminated in the winger going over out wide. The conversion missed but a narrow lead, 13-10, was regained.

But that was to be Old Cranleighians’ last foray into Farnham’s territory as the Black and Whites continued to search for an opening, the tackle count mounting by the second and the intensity rising to new levels as the clock wound down. Ben Adams, Toby Comley, Ben Brown and Frost – all back rowers – had virtually tackled and run themselves into the ground. Bodies littered the pitch as cramp and injuries took their toll.

However, Farnham were in the ascendancy and, after another series of probes by the heavies, the ball was worked out to Reece Stennett in a yard of space. He only needed that yard and didn’t miss, driving in for the try followed by a superb conversion from Toby Salmon with the ball swirling in the wind to retake the lead 17-13.

The referee indicated the last play at a scrum. Old Cranleighians secured the ball and from their own ten-metre line hammered no less than 16 phases into the Farnham defence. They had no option but to keep the ball in hand and score, but it was not to be as tackle after tackle from the Farnham boys finally forced a knock on and the final whistle blew.

The result keeps Farnham in the mix for the promotion play-offs. Two points separate three sides still in that race, one being Old Alleynians who visit Monkton Lane on March 23 for potentially a season-defining encounter.