Farnham Royal not strong enough.... With a bare 15, Farnham Royal travelled to high flying Gosford All Blacks on Saturday the 22nd March as the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Premier league heads toward conclusion. Farnham were looking to try and disrupt proceedings at the top of the tabe hoping to prolong their stay in this league, whilst Gosford still harbour a challange for promotion. After an unsettled warm up with suggestions of changing strips, dressed in our own Black shirts the side that lined up was 1. Toni Flore (C) 2. Jim Stuart 3. John Glynn 4. Stuart Moffat 5. Scott Gibbins 6. Ben Coppins 7. Mike Alsen 8. Jamie Moffat 9. Dave Marsden 10. Tom Boardman 11. Meryn James Norris 12. Jason Gumbs 13. Lee Bailey 14. Conna Green 15. Mark Jones The first half Farnham had the wind behind their backs and Fly Half Tom Boardman used this to try and place the visitors deep in Gosfords territory. There was some early success at the lineout with Stuart Moffat as consistent as ever and using the forward pack to set some good mauls in motion. Gosford however were well drilled and slick and despite a few handling erros in distribution were able to disrupt any momentum from Farnham and started to utilise their backs in some fine open play moves as well as some strong carrying and running from their tight 5 – securing a 4 try bonus point by the end of the half. The visitors were however able to register their own scores obtaining two trys of their own – the first from Jamie Moffat and the second from Centre Jason Gumbs after some excellent pressure and secured ball from the forwards on the Gosford try line before finally working the ball wider to exploit the overlap. With no changes able to be made and Chairman Dave Watson running the line, supplying the water and the medical treatment it was a long second half in which Gosford ran in a number of well worked trys with Farnham valiantly trying to compete. Dave Marsden continually being a nuisance off the base of the scrum (and just generally) led to the only points for Farnham in the second half - an opportune drop goal from Tom Boardman. The final score being 75 – 15 to Gosford. Our attentions now turn to Hungerford for our last home game of the season on the 29th March – followed by our Annual General Meeting. Please do your upmost to attend the meeting to help shape and steer the future of your club. Training Tuesday at 7pm. Our thanks to Gosford and the referee; and best of luck for the rest of their season.
Posted on: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 12:35:59 +0000