All hands to the pump!
No - the headline is not a time warp back to Wrecclesham when we had to drain the grounds after every bit of rain. It merely reflects the fact that both our players and our volunteers must up their game this coming weekend for what will be a gale of rugby to welcome in the autumn.
The 1st XV has the daunting task of welcoming Medway to Monkton Lane. We have lost our first three games (but maybe could have/should have won a couple) while the lads making the trip from Rochester are unbeaten. The boys will need a fast start and all the support they can get - so let's get loud on the balcony!
As usual the fixture will be preceded by a club lunch. Entry into a £15 raffle affords the diner a menu of stuffed chicken breast wrapped in bacon served with seasonal vedg followed by a fine selection of cheese and coffee. We'll gather for 13.30 to sit at 13.45 for the 15.00 kick off.
To book your seat(s) please email gerry2107@icloud.com
NOTE THE DIFFERENT EMAIL FOR THIS WEEK'S BOOKINGS.
In other men's games, the Warriors host Bec Old Boys - in the hopes of extending their extraordinary unbeaten run, the Vikings are at Dorking - another challenging fixture (see match report below) - and the Barbarians - eager for a game after last week's cancellation - make the trip to Fordingbridge.
On Sunday the club will be frantically busy as we welcome the Mini Sections from Cranleigh, Guildford and Haslemere to compete in the annual Waverley Tournament. We are expecting 600-700 girls and boys to come and play rugby. While we wish the best of luck to all those in the Black and White, our heads and hearts must go out to the team who have worked - and will work - to make the tournament run as smooth as silk (no doubt) and the coaches, admins and 1st aiders behind every age group. Thank you all - and. please can all of you down at the club on the day do what you can to make their daunting task that bit easier.
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Last week, the club house was packed with 100+ coaches - many of them on duty at the Waverley Tournament this Sunday. They enjoyed a curry supper followed by a learning session led by experienced, first rate coaches Academy Coach Jake Cottrell and World Cup winning women's and current Quins Academy coach, Gary Street.
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The first Girls Surrey Values Festival on Sunday saw Farnham U13 Girls take two non-streamed teams along. Farnham were the only team with two sides on the day, wanting to give as many girls as possible the opportunity to experience such a festival.
The girls have worked so hard in training over the last few weeks and it showed as none of our newer members looked out of place at all. With intensity and energy from the off support running and ball retention left opposition in no doubt playing Farnham was not going to be an easy game. Some of our more experienced girls showed the younger, newer ones the intensity they need to work at and soon we were running in tries a plenty.
The teamwork, togetherness and commitment after ten back-to-back games lead to some battered and bruised girls, tired coaches, refs and medics not to mention parents making the trip home with massive smiles on their faces.
Scores are not recorded in the values festival but if they were, Farnham would have been shining brightly at the top. Great day for all, an experience to replicate and grow from.
Tracey Parry, Coach.
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With the 1st XV having a Saturday off, it was down to the 2nd XV to entertain. Although coming second, they put on a good show and scored some cracking tries - see match report below. The line up of players here well illustrate the blend of experience and new talent across the senior men's rugby. L-R Adam Widlake, Fran Meagre, Rory Taylor and Angus Butcher. NB both sides of "black and whites" took the opportunity to play in their change strip.
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Vikings sink to lively Sutton and Epsom
By our pitch side reporter and club President, Geoff Bond
After a tremendous victory at Camberley on the previous Saturday the Vikings faced a lively Sutton and Epsom side who showed pace and power throughout.
This is a balanced Farnham XV but it is still very much in the development phase, everything was a bit to fast and loose creating attacking opportunities for the visitors. There were standout performances from skipper Harry West, Jordan Frost, back to first XV fitness and young wingers Rory Taylor and Sam Thomas and the remainder battled from start to finish driven on by Angus Butcher and Jon Vincent but on this occasion battling was just not enough.
Time after time spirited Farnham attacks were spoilt by poor decision making and endless handling errors ‘Hands like a Digital Watch’ sprang to mind. It was frustrating for the players and the watching Farnham Faithfull. Sutton went into the lead after ten minutes with a try under the posts after a rapid breakout attack, a feature that was to be repeated throughout the game. 0-7. Early days and back came Farnham through Phillimore to close the gap but from the kick off the Visitors back row combined to put their centre through a gap. Too easily and ominous signs were appearing, tackles being missed and a ragged defensive line did not help the Home cause. 5-14 and worst was to come despite brave scrambling defence S&E raced in three converted tries before half time to open up an unassailable lead 5-31.
Perhaps the most encouraging feature of the game was not a comeback but a fight back from the predominantly young Black and Whites with three tries from initially a push over try for Vincent, followed up with an outrageous dummy try by a flying Jarrad Cooper and a superb finish by Fillimore. All this to a further two tries for Sutton. Some consolation then that the last 45 minutes were ‘won’ by Farnham by 15-12 to give Sutton a well deserved win by 20-43.
Some plus points but also a lot to work on – at this level everything is just a bit too fast and furious, the handling errors were woeful through a host of poor final passes, whilst the set pieces were solid through BT and Haynes backed up Azevado, the line out, like the 1st XV, struggles to function.
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The 2021/22 Members Handbook is here.
A little later than planned, we publish the 2021/22 Member's Year Book. Once again, it is an on-line "flip book" which you can access from this link:
https://www.flipsnack.com/farnhamrugby/hb-21_22-final-1-ujqdql31ci.html
or download from the Website as a PDF from here:
https://www.farnhamrugby.org/d/documents.html
Its 74 pages tell you all you need to know about every aspect of the club. It is essential reading for those new to the club and, indeed, for any member who'd like to take a peak beyond their team or age group to discover more about the breadth, depth, history and future plans of the organisation of which they are part. Below is the contents page.
Thank you to all our advertisers who are supporting the club both in this publication, the 1st XV home game match programmes and the pitch-side hoardings.
The 2021/22 Year Book Contents
Welcome from the President and Chairman
Our approach to the game - from the Director of Rugby, Gary Stennett
Men’s Rugby – from the Head Coach, Ali Chisholm
Women’s Rugby – from the Section Chair, Abi Jackson
Junior Male Rugby – from the Section Chair, Sam Foskett
Junior Female Rugby – from the Section Chair, Tracey Parry
Mini Rugby – from the Section Chair, Graeme Black
Safeguarding at FRUFC – from our Safeguarding Officer, Darren Light
Schools Liaison – from our Schools Liaison Officer, Noel Thompson
Touch Rugby – from the Section Chair, Tom Kirk
Senior Player Welfare – from the Club Captain, Toby Comley
The Teams and Age Groups - An overview of what the teams are all about with relevant contact details. All Junior age group pages feature a profile of the head coach and a brief description of the adjusted laws to which they play (team and pitch size, tackling, scrums, lineouts etc).
FRUFC Past, Present and Future - a brief description of where the club came from, our current position and an overview of our strategic plan to constantly develop and improve the rugby experience at Farnham.
The Leadership and Committee Members - Mini profiles, pictures and contact details of the many who make this place tick.
Honorary Life Members - The members who have gone above and beyond to be awarded the special honour of Honorary Life Vice President or Life Membership.
Membership Fees – held for yet another year!
Club Communications – how to get the info you need to make the most of your membership.
Club Calendar – how the average rugby year pans out at FRUFC.
The Club Shop – opening times, products and prices.
The Shed – how to sign up for this fabulous fitness facility for members.
The Club’s Charities – on which we focus the club’s generosity.
Hire the magnificent clubhouse!
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