Farnham travelled to Chichester with a scratch side for a hastily re-arranged fixture on Saturday in hope rather than expectation.

Within 12 minutes Chichester led 10-0. A penalty was well taken by their number 13, then Farnham spilt the ball while on the attack. A huge boot in behind them, with all their players forward, saw the ball bounce kindly for Chichester’s chasing Fijian player, who was in for an ultimately converted try.

From the kick-off a good chase produced a line-out on the Chichester 22. Two tapped penalties later Farnham flanker Josh Watson was over wide out. Alex Chalker’s conversion hit the post and the score was 10-5.

The wind then caught a Farnham clearance kick which failed to make touch. It was picked up by the lively Chichester number five, who burst through and made the most of the slope to gallop in under the posts. 

Farnham retrieved the ball at the restart and threatened the hosts, but history repeated itself when a long raking return kick by Chichester saw their fast Fijian out-sprint the turned Farnham defenders to dot down.

With 35 minutes gone the score was 22-5, and the first period ended in typical fashion. Farnham pressed with the ball in hand, and it was knocked on. Chichester broke out and  Farnham coughed up a penalty for not releasing, and from the five-metre line-out the pick and drive put Chichester over. It was 29-5 at half-time.

Farnham had a line-out deep in the Chichester 22 within minutes of the restart. The ball looked to have been over-thrown, but Oliver Banks-Thompson at the tail was quickest to react and snaffled it to set up a ruck, allowing Watson to go over for his second try. Chalker was accurate from the tee and it was 29-12.

Then Farnham pressed with the ball in hand. Full-back Reece Stennett joined the line at pace and the ball was fizzed wide, only to fall into the hands of Chichester’s fast Fijian who sprinted in from 80 metres out to make it 36-12.

Sam Jones restarted deep and the Chichester number nine struggled with the breeze. His box kick went high but made no ground. Chichester were caught offside, Jones kicked for the corner, and after a good line-out and maul Watson plunged over to complete his hat-trick. Chalker’s effort from out wide hit the near post and fell wide, leaving the score at 36-17.

Farnham’s decision-making began to go astray and their exit kick went straight into touch, but from the attacking line-out Chichester strayed offside.

The final minutes of the game were cut and thrust, with both sides close to scoring. The defining moment came as Farnham spun the ball wide to break out of their 22. Debutant Joe Marsh - on for winger Rian Stutley - was almost clear, only to be nearly decapitated by his marker. The miscreant was shown a yellow card and Chichester played the final minutes with 14 men.

Farnham pressed and Chichester repeatedly offended. Jones’ penalty kicks hit the five-metre line twice, only for the attacks therefrom to be rebuffed by desperate Chichester defending.

At the third attempt the ball was kept by the Farnham forwards, who picked and drove to create the space for Jonathan Vincent to go over out wide. Chalker’s effort from the tee fell short, leaving the score at 36-22, and before long the final whistle blew.

Vincent’s bonus point try was just desserts for the stand-in skipper, who marshalled his pack from number eight and led the entire team by great example. He bossed the line-out, his blistering runs at Chichester’s midfield invariably put them on the back foot, and no attacker got past him.

This team belied the title of a scratch side, and but for that second half breakaway it would have been within a hair’s breadth of a much-deserved win. On the President’s Podium, voted for by the players, were Josh Watson (3rd), Jonny Vincent (2nd) and Dan O’Keeffe (1st).

Next week rugby returns to Monkton Lane as the 1st XV plays against fourth-placed Guildford. With some new faces putting down their marker, the Farnham management have some tough but welcome selection decisions to make. Kick-off is at 3pm.

Mark Weeks