WEYBRIDGE 10, FARNHAM 34

THIS victory sent Farnham back to the top of London 3SW, one point ahead of Eastleigh who came perilously close to losing their unbeaten record, squeaking home 19-18 against Battersea.

Five points further back are Old Cranleighians who trounced Portsmouth US 68-12 last weekend and visit Monkton Lane this Saturday in what should be a cracking game.

Perfect conditions greeted another reshuffled Farnham squad when they arrived late after A3/M3 traffic problems and they looked to have a tough task on their hands as Weybridge (formerly University) Vandals, launched a multi-phase attack.

With the penalties already mounting and Farnham struggling at the breakdown, Greg Lynch kicked Vandals into an early 3-0 lead.

However, Toby Salmon, with brother Mike outside paired with James Corlett, started to control the pace and tempo of the game. And with Toby Comley and Andrew Bond back to their scavenging best, the visitors soon broke out of their early malaise.

The front three of Jules Joris, Lennie Jennings and Luke Batten looked dominant and with Ian Williams and James Franklin in the row, Farnham began to boss the scrum against their larger opponents.

After a frustrating first 15 minutes, a superb up-and-under from Toby Salmon opened the door. Farnham drove to the corner after a knock-on. Jennings was spot-on at an attacking lineout and a textbook transfer gave Batten the try.

No extras in a tricky breeze and a drab period followed, with the play fragmented by too many penalties. The coaches of both sides tried to settle their players and it was Farnham who made a vital breakthrough shortly before half-time.

Penalty to the visitors and quick-thinking Toby Salmon dummied to winger Ed Weeks and darted over for an audacious try. A simple conversion and Farnham, for the third week running, were a score in front at the break ­– a good sign as they now had the wind in their favour with the heavier Weybridge pack starting to wilt.

Farnham began to go through the phases in a fast 15-man support game. With right-wing Luke Jermyn and full-back Cameron Armstrong complementing Weeks in a probing back three and Ben Jones prompting from scrum-half, Vandals could not lay a hand on the ball.

Batten and Bond crossed over after the multi-phase move, only to have the try wiped out by an unsighted referee.

Vandals were deemed to have turned the ball over, but were penalised for crossing and Toby Salmon’s boot stretched the lead to 15-3.

Farnham’s much-changed side were starting to gel, but Vandals stole the kick-off and Bond was battered in the tackle, leading to a five-minute break before the pack leader retired to A&E with a nasty ear injury.

Young Reece Stennet joined the fray on the flank, but Vandals saw their chance and from an attacking lineout, used their hefty No 3 as a battering ram to create space for George Hemmingway to bulldoze over under the posts. Lynch converted and Vandals had cut the deficit to five points with 25 minutes to go.

The kick-off went straight out, but Farnham disrupted Weybridge at the resulting scrum. Weeks gathered the loose ball and made 20 yards, after which Farnham moved left to right and back again before Toby Salmon trotted over out wide.

Trailing 10-20, Vandals came battering up the middle, only to spill the ball. What should have been a try-scoring pass from Toby Comley went astray, but the forwards turned the ball over at the set-piece and James Corlett ran a superb line to the posts. T Salmon with the extras and Farnham had a 17-point cushion.

Vandals allowed the restart to bounce into touch on their 22 and resumed their ‘thump-it-up-the-middle’ game plan with renewed vigour.

But the Farnham defence held firm and the pressure was soon reversed. Yet again, Farnham won the scrum on Vandals’ put-in and with the home back row tied up, the space was there for Toby Salmon to high-step over under the sticks and then land the conversion for the last points of the game.

Credit to Vandals, they came straight back in search of a consolation try, but another turnover on the final play was testament to Farnham’s resolute and niggardly defence.

Farnham President’s Podium Points: Toby Salmon 3, Luke Batten 2, Cameron Armstrong 1.

*The Farnham versus Old Cranleighans game (ko 2.30pm) will be preceded by the club lunch. To book seats, email chairman@farnhamrugby. org