Wild Geese all in a flap as Farnham record first win
FARNHAM claimed their first win of the season with a 50-20 triumph over old rivals London Irish Wild Geese.
Farnham started at pace but after over-extending in attack, the Irish opened the scoring after a deft crossfield clearance kick by their experienced fly-half to the right.
A flick inside pass saw them go over in the corner.
The ease of the try stung Farnham into action and they never looked back.
Toby Salmon raced away after a lineout catch and drive to score under the posts, and claimed the extras for 7-5.
Almost immediately the Irish were on the back foot from another mazy run from halfway by Toby Salmon who created the space for brother Tim to crash over for the try.
Farnham were playing electric, rapid handling rugby at its best. Winger Gabe Hills, back to his best, fought off all the cover to score in the corner for 19-5.
Some respite came for the visitors at the kick-off. They put in a concerted series of pick and drives, forcing the Farnham pack to infringe and a penalty was kicked over the posts.
However, the Farnham backs were not to be denied and after a surging attack had dragged the Geese defence from one side to the other, Ben Jones was on hand at his full blistering pace to score the bonus point try.
Another easy conversion for Toby Salmon gave Farnham a 26-8 lead at half-time.
The second half opened with a turnover from pack leader Ben Adams, who set the standards for his injury-disrupted pack.
Toby Salmon again capitalised and opened a chasm in the Irish defence to put Nathan Philimore over for his first club try. The conversion was a formality.
The visitors never gave up the battle and got their reward. After a lineout catch and drive their hooker drove over for the try and an easy conversion.
This stung Farnham into action. Some smart handling decorated attack after attack.
The back row of Toby Comley, Jon Vincent and Jordan Frost ruled the open field for the whole match, putting the Irish under constant pressure. After Farnham failed to take advantage of two easy try opportunities, Toby Salmon again stretched the defence to put in the flying fullback Jones in for his second try.
Back came the Irish and after a series of attacks were stifled, their winger broke free to be awarded a score wide out.
However, that concluded their scoring for the day as again Farnham raised the bar with a scintillating try from Hills who stood up his opposite number and skinned him with an outside break.
Not content with all the scores out wide, the pack finished the game with a final pick and drive flourish that battered the visitors’ defence, making space for Jones to break though and pass inside to Jordan Frost to smash over under the posts to cap a fine individual performance.
On Saturday Farnham host Guildford at Monkton Lane in undoubtedly their derby game of the season.
The teams are adjacent in the London One South league pecking order, and it’s set up for a thrilling encounter to which all spectators are welcome at no charge.
With their three scheduled league games so far this season postponed by the opposition, the Farnham Falcons at last took to the field at Monkton Lane in a non-league match against Twickenham-based Thamesians Women.
Honours were shared for most of this open and hard-fought game, until the closing minutes when Thamesians ran in three breakout tries to clinch a 33-26 victory.