Farnham 20pts, Eastleigh 16pts

THIS was a thunderous contest between two very good rugby squads.

The matches between Farnham and Eastleigh over the last three or years have always been bruising, high octane encounters. And for sheer full on, no-nonsense rugby, last Saturday’s match was, according to many on the touchline, one of the best games witnessed at Monkton Lane since the club’s move from Wrecclesham.

The two sides lined up in balmy conditions after the monsoons of last weekend. The early exchanges proved to be a precursor to the whole 80 minutes – end to end throughout. Fitness levels are now at their peak with the players increasingly battle hardened with three or four games under their belts.

Farnham were playing into a light wind and surging forward through Marco Azevado and Jonny Davidson, on at the start as Army flanker Moses Kurulala was delayed on duty. The pace was electric from the first whistle with both sides determined to put down an early marker. First Farnham then Eastleigh seemed to be gaining the upper hand.

Both sides played expansive rugby. At every opportunity, Farnham spun the ball wide to their electric back three of Ben Jones, Eliot Rich and Reece Stennet while Michael Salmon and Ed Weeks made inroads up the middle to give Farnham the early momentum. And pressure brings points. A penalty for offside was awarded against the aggressive Eastleigh defence, leaving Toby Salmon with an easy kick and a 3-0 lead for Farnham.

The work rate on both sides was colossal. For amateur players, this was a testament to their fitness levels and pure skills. Jules Joris, Lenny Jennings and Olly Thompson drove forward close to the breakdowns and smashed into tackles as Eastleigh launched close-in attacks. The forwards cancelled each other out at the scrum and lineout, but gradually the balance of play shifted.

Eastleigh created a sequence of swarming attacks, with ball retention at a premium. As the phases of play began to mount and the momentum increased, the Eastleigh 10, Baldwin, played a switch move to put winger Enock over in the corner. The conversion slid wide as Eastleigh moved into a 5-3 lead.

The visitors began to dominate the power struggle at this stage and they increased the pressure and forced another penalty which Baldwin kicked into the Farnham 22. Desperate scrambling defence allowed Farnham to repel the initial attack, but Eastleigh charged back, caught Farnham offside and the penalty was easy for Lovell, the Eastleigh full back, and the lead was padded to 8-3.

Farnham were stung into action and made a rare foray into the Eastleigh 22 with a sustained attack driven on by new number 8 Rob Mitchell, who enjoyed a superb debut, supported by the ever-present Toby Comley and Kurala, who came on for the injured Jennings. Comley and in-form Ben Adams were beginning to rule the lineouts and maintain possession. And just five metres out the attack was broken down illegally, gifting Toby Salmon an easy penalty kick to reduce the arrears to 8-6.

The game continued to flow from end to end. Eastleigh upped the ante in attack, pulling the home defence left and right. Gaps appeared in the otherwise stalwart defence and Baldwin spotted winger Enock free and with an inch-perfect cross kick, the try was a formality. However, Ben Jones, at full back, ensured the try was scored out wide to deny an easy conversion chance as Eastleigh stretched their lead to 13-6.

Farnham were hanging on at this stage with the home supporters urging the referee to call the half to a halt and let the battered players regroup. However, the players had other ideas. A chip and chase by Toby Salmon was halted by the Eastleigh full-back with a late tackle. The referee was on the spot with a yellow card to go with the penalty to Farnham. With the clock running down, the ball was kicked to the corner. The ensuing lineout was won by a soaring Ben Adams and Farnham drove for the line. The maul was held up but scrum-half Oli Brown managed to dig the ball out. Fast hands through Mike Salmon and Ed Weeks allowed Ben Jones to cut back at high speed to score the try by the posts to set up an easy conversion for Toby Salmon to tie the scores at 13-13 at half time.

If the first half was fast, furious and bruising then the second half proved to be even more so. Early inroads by Farnham and prop Gareth Yeomans was held up over the line. A subsequent scrum to Farnham still failed to result in the ball being touched down as the Eastleigh defence held firm.

The slugfest continued as a 13-13 stalemate in a pulsating exhibition of attritional rugby. Eastleigh were always looking slightly more dangerous and on 71 minutes Farnham conceded a penalty and it was easy for Lovell. Suddenly Eastleigh led 16-13 with time running out.

Eastleigh launched wave after wave of attacks to put the game beyond doubt, but with Farnham scrambling desperately in defence the Monkton wall held. As the game wound to its conclusion, Eastleigh cleared the ball deep into the Farnham 22. The back three dealt with the threat and carried the ball to the edge of the 22. Recycled at the ruck, the ball reached Ollie Brown. Showing the skill and head-up rugby that are a hallmark of Farnham’s back play, he put in an audacious, inch-perfect cross-field kick that landed between the upcoming Eastleigh backs and Farnham’s Toby Salmon lurking on the far touchline. With a perfect bounce the ball sat up for a flying Salmon who sprinted a lung-bursting 80 metres down the exposed Eastleigh wing for the winning score. He even had the audacity to send a difficult conversion between the posts to wrap up an absorbing win.

“This was a good Eastleigh side - fit, fast and focused. They would say they deserved more than a point and, hand on heart, Farnham, who battled to the very end, just shaded it,” said Farnham president Geoff Bond.

On Saturday, Farnham travel to face Old Emanuel in London 2 South West (kick-off 3pm).

Farnham seconds lost 43-14 away at Rosslyn Park Hatters in the Surrey Premiership, Farnham thirds thrashed Cranleigh seconds 44-19 in Surrey Combination 1 South, Farnham fourths lost 41-10 at Sandown & Shanklin in Hampshire 4.