🏉 News: Yet another "1st" and another sponsor

Another First for Farnham

Last Sunday the club fielded its first ever women's 2nd XV in a league match. This is testament to the brilliant work of those volunteers driving the women's section forward, the fabulous facilities that we all enjoy and the warm welcome offered by the entire FRUFC family.

The same accolades are due with respect to the Waverley Tournament the Mini's hosted on the same day, not to mention our Junior sides out competing in cup games - led by the Academy with their 7-27 win at Richmond.

The Men's sides had a less than successful day on Saturday. It's rare that we record a clean sweep of coning second. The 1st XV lost to Medway at home 5-22 (but earned the respect of many, not least Medway's coach - see match report below), the Vikings lost at Dorking 5-32, the Warriors long winning streak was ended by Bec Old Boys 0-20 and the Barbarians braved a fuel-bedevilled trip to New Milton only to go down 29-14. However, to put four teams out is an amazing achievement in itself.

And in another first, our Girls U13s played their first competitive contact matches at a festival at Old Reigatians - and by all accounts, outplayed everyone there. With a year of development gone to COVID, it was a brilliant display.

Next weekend sees the men have a "playing pause", but the club remains busy on Sunday - not as busy as we had hoped as Crowthorne Ladies have had to postpone the league game against our Falcons 1st due to a raft of injuries and last minute unavailability. That's the second game binned for the Falcons. When they do get to play. I'm sure there will be plenty of pent up frustration unleashed!

So the headline match on Sunday is the Academy v Guildford in the Cup. KO 12.30 - as good a live rugby fix as your going to get anywhere this weekend! Be there.

And don't miss your chance to watch
England's Six Nations games at Twickenham next Spring.
Last week's call to enter the ballot for tickets is repeated below.
Ballot closes this Saturday!

As the club relentlessly pushes forward, we welcome new sponsors and commercial partners.

First Pitch Sponsor

We are delighted to welcome The Oak Tree & Acorn Company Limited as the first pitch sponsor.

The Oak Tree & Acorn Company was formed in 2009 and is owned and run by Rebecca Horrell-Tidbury, supported by her husband Jan.

The business is an established gift and homeware company that specialises in supplying a range of quality and desirable gifts at affordable prices – Oak Tree are also an official stockist of Frenchic Paint.

The company's roots are firmly based in Farnham and has grown a large on-line presence, opened a fabulous shop at The Shed in Bordon, along with five other retail outlets across the South of England.
Rebecca and her husband have a long connection with Farnham RUFC - they have had five children move through the age groups - three from under 6 to the Academy and Rebecca still has her youngest playing in the junior section.

She was General Manager of The Club for four years and it's book-keeper for 10 years. Jan was Chairman of the 2013 Minis Tour and Membership Secretary and Committee member for four years.

Rebecca says - "I am delighted to be able to continue to support Farnham RUFC - from being an avid parent on the touchline, employee of the club and now a proud sponsor of this wonder community club. Jan and I plan to be on the touchline and balcony to support our teams as often as we can!"

The Oak Tree & Acorn Company would like offer club members a 10% discount on all products bought on-line www.oaktreeandacorn.com or in their shop at The Shed in Bordon (plus additional flash offers!!) PROMO CODE - RUGBY 10

On the first autumnal day of the season, rain and wind played their part in this thrilling, end-to-end encounter. “This was a good win on the road in very difficult conditions. Despite their league position Farnham are a well organised team and will win plenty of games,” said Medway Head Coach, Taff Gwilliam. And at half time, the Farnham Faithful were optimistic for the first win of the season, but it was not to be. The conditions were filthy, but the skill levels were high - apart from the inevitable ‘bar-of-soap’ handling errors - as Medway gradually stretched away from the Black and Whites.

Farnham started with promise. Their three previous games had begun badly with early scores against them. The Medway attacks were dealt with, and Farnham began to exert control in the scrums against the hefty Kentish Men. Props Marco Azevedo and Ben Edwards were effective in both the tight and around the fringes. Hooker Jules Joris was tigerish at the breakdown and the large home crowd began to dream. Could this be the turning point? The sizeable contingent of Medway travelling supporters were quietened.

After some superb gnarly defence led by No 8 Oscar Henderson and flanker Jordan Frost - one and two on the Presidents Podium for their performances - Toby Salmon spotted a gap and freed up winger Gabe Hills - third on the podium - for a twisting, turning sprint to the corner. 5-0 Farnham. A lead at last!

Medway are unbeaten and third in the league. The home team, without a win, are third from bottom. But the difference was yet to show. Medway conceded four penalties but, as has been the case all season, the Farnham line out just would not function well enough to earn the just rewards. The boys from Kent battled to get off the hook and their slippery, elusive left winger Orris - a thorn in the Farnham side all afternoon - broke away to force a penalty. It was an easy three points for fly half Harvey who enjoyed a flawless display with the boot from both hand and tee.

On the half hour Steve Simmons, a late replacement for Pete Daly who was injured in the warm-up, was forced off with a knee injury. Sam Woodhams came off the bench to the flank while Frost was shifted to the row. Intensity levels did not lower. As the clock wound down to the break, Medway increased their lead to 5-9 with two penalties by Harvey. But Farnham would now enjoy the wind and rain in their favour for the second half. Hopes were high.
Farnham started with a driving period of heavy pressure. Medway’s defence was stretched to breaking and within the first four minutes of the half conceded four penalties in their 22. Toby Salmon’s penalty attempt went awry and gradually the visitors worked their way back into the game. With just twenty minutes left on the clock, Farnham were caught offside at a Medway line out in midfield and the ever accurate Harvey made it 5-12.

Farnham tried everything to break the deadlock. Opinions on the balcony varied about the tactics employed. Was the pick and drive being overused? Medway’s defence just would not budge. And then another break-out by Orris put Clement over in the corner. A superb conversion from Harvey made it 5-19.

Could Farnham stage a game changing comeback? Penetrating runs from the Salmon trio – Michael, Tim and Toby freed up wingers Gabe Hills and Reece Stennett who hit a Scarlet and Gold wall without success. Harrison Horner in the row and Jonathan Vincent on the flank battled manfully but the stranglehold could not be broken. For the final flourish, Harvey finished his display with a long range penalty kick at goal - 5-22 the final score.

Frustration for Farnham again. This is a tough league but, as this fixture proved, there is little difference between top and bottom. Depleted by injuries (Daly) and availability (club captain and regular flanker Toby Comley was saving himself to run the London Marathon for the Lullaby/SIDS charity the next day) the boys stuck at it for the whole game. As the Medway coach indicated, wins will come for this set of players – perhaps as they learn their lessons about game management and make greater use of the talented back line. With the likes of Henderson, Frost, Comley and Daly on the charge up front, the Farnham backs would terrorise any defence.

Written by Geoff Bond with edits by your correspondent.

U15As off to a flyer

A great start in the first round of the Waterfall Cup as the U15As beat Reeds - who draw mainly from the very unbeaten St George’s Weybridge school team - 17/0 with tries from Pye, Carr (converted by Evans) and McManus. The victory was itself grounded in 3 areas.

Firstly in a rucking game that saw us look after our ball, steal more than our fair share and put the ball on a plate for our half backs.

Secondly in a wider stellar forward performance from our front 5 – Simpson, Ridler, Clarkson, Healy, Kendall were outstanding in the tight at scrum time owning their opposite numbers and just so dynamic in the loose on the carry, in the tackle and again at ruck time. All 5 playing full matches was a credit to their workrate and fitness.

And thirdly in an all round incredible defensive effort. The tackling to a man was superb. Up front all 9 of our forwards made big and telling tackles – McManus, Robinson, Milhane operating notably alongside the engine room in defence. And in our backs we suitably shackled their dangerous back line on the press in the middle (Evans, Padley, McSweeney, Prosser) and scrambling when called upon with some tremendous cover work from Cassidy, Uprichard and Thompson when it looked like we would concede a first of the season.

Pye and birthday boy Carr deserved their tries for some powerful and elusive running respectively and Hughes looked dangerous every time he had the ball in hand asking questions of the opposition defence.