Frenetic Hog’s Back derby ends all-square
IT WAS honours even in the firstever match between neighbours Farnham and Guildford.
The game began at pace and both sides had explosive quick back rows. Pressure and tackling were at a premium.
Farnham’s Jonny Vincent and new talisman Oscar Henderson, backed by the ever-present Toby Comley, had their own mini battle against a lively Guildford trio.
Marco Azevado, enjoying his 50th appearance in the Black and White, threatened on the charge and the early territory went Farnham’s way.
The weather played its part and thundering clearances by Guildford kept pushing the home team into reverse. Farnham overthrew at their lineout in the Guildford 22 to release Guildford flanker Tom Devereux. Slick hands saw the Farnham flank exposed, allowing former Farnham winger Joe Wigmore to race over for the first score. Easy extras for Ben King gave Guildford a 7-0 lead.
Farnham were put under pressure by the Guildford defence. Quick line speed forced faster reactions in the Farnham back line. Their attacks faltered because of that pressure and led at times to poor passes.
At last Farnham worked through that pressure. From a scrum 15 metres out, skipper Ollie Brown released the backs through fly-half Matt Farnes and a rehearsed move saw Toby Salmon on the loop and under the posts untouched. The conversion drew the sides level.
A combination of the wind and two strong defences that cancelled each other out resulted in a frenetic and scrappy first half.
Both sides had made inroads but came away empty handed. The Guildford penalty count was on the rise with countless offsides at the gain line.
With the clock running down Farnham launched an attack and were held just short of the line, illegally deemed the referee, and three penalty points for Salmon gave Farnham a 10-7 lead at half-time.
As in the previous two games, Farnham used their three replacements by half-time. The disruptions seemed to affect the normally sprightly backs division, and so it was down to the pack to put the pressure on.
Ben Adams and Jordan Frost in the second row and hooker Jules Joris worked hard in both defence and attack.
However, it was Guildford who delivered two hammer blows in the first few minutes of the half.
Despite being on the back foot, breakout tries pushed the score to 17-10 with the bulk of the half still to play.
Gradually the tide turned and, aided by the strengthening breeze, Farnham entrenched Guildford in their own 22.
The visitors were caught offside yet again, a running theme of the day, and Salmon reaped the three penalty points.
Time and time again Farnham threatened, but on each occasion they were kept at bay by desperate defending.
Gabe Hills looked almost certain to score when caught with a try-saving tackle. Then a series of Farnham pick and drive attempts, inches from the line, were all snuffed out.
An attack down the left wing saw centre Nathan Phillimore tackled around the neck with the line begging. Flanker Devereux was sent to the bin for this indiscretion.
Back battled Guildford and with five minutes to go Farnham conceded a needless penalty under their posts. An easy three for the visitors and, perhaps, the winning score, gave them a 20-13 lead.
Farnham had to respond and did. Azevado on the charge was held and then Adams was well tackled.
Guildford killed the ball and the penalty to Farnham was quickly taken by scrum-half Brown, with Guildford in disarray.
Quick ruck ball saw Dec Kavanagh go in under the posts for the last action of a scrappy but entertaining afternoon, before Salmon’s conversion sealed the 20-20 draw.