Rampaging Polar Bear is Dickie of the Day at Farnham Royal

The longest away day for the 2s season saw them travel down the M40 to Farnham Royal (just north of Slough) for an friendly. With GAB 2s and Farnham 1s both on a league bye week, Farnham were keen to have a game as they were celebrating for Dave - a few players came out of the woodwork, a number of colts were given game time and sprinkled with some quality from enough 1s players to keep their structure, Farnham came at the game in the right way: determined to put on a show for the birthday boy and their supporters.

Gosford however, turned up late, disorganised and with 2 last minute drop outs leaving us with just Super Sub Dan Porter prowling the sidelines chomping to come on. A hasty warmup and rousing chats was conducted and GAB set out in their reverse red shirts.

If evidence was needed of the importance of a warm up, GAB nearly conceded with a couple of minutes on the clock, which a pass from the scrum went over the 10's head and the Farnham 9 reacted quickest to kick the ball on and only a desperate save by Ben Coates stopped a certain try.

Farnham did get on the scoresheet first - their absolute menace of an 8, picking a good line and then beating several more cover tacklers to go over for an unconverted try - 5-0

This spurred GAB into life and using the slope and the wind they camped out in Farnham's half, but forays into the 22 ended in disappointment - balls dropped, held up over the line and a kick through from Danny Rae saw him just beaten to the ball over the line. Eventually everything came together and a line out drive (following a monster 50-22 from Alfie Morton), initially well controlled by Jason Beesley got GAB within inches of the score, before Rich Tyler drove over the line to seal the deal. Alfie missed the conversion - 5-5

There was time for one more score before the break, with the Farnham 12 picking another line back on the inside for a converted try to lead to the half time score of 12-5.

GAB came out for the 2nd half refreshed following some traditional half time oranges (thanks James McAuley) and determined to not let the wind or the slope put them off - and did manage the start the half the stronger. Another lineout in the Farnham 22, again saw the forwards hammering away at the try line and it was Dickie Tyler again crashing over the whitewash, unfortunately Alfie had left his place kicking boots back in Oxfordshire, so GAB still trailed 12-10.

The next 30 odd minutes saw the play mostly hanging around the halfway line - forays by either side ending due to handling errors, turnovers or penalties. By the end of the half and desperate not to have travelled all that way without getting the win, again GAB worked their way up into the 22. Multiple phases were repelled by Farnham, also desperate to secure the win - the closest they were getting was a held up Danny Rae attempt, before eventually, finally, Dickie Tyler popped up with his big polar bear mitts and crashed his way through to put GAB into the lead for the first time 12-15

Hoping that time would be up, the referee instead said there were 2 minutes left to play, so preceded a very nervous period for GAB as Farnham kicked deep, leaving a kick out as the only way to relieve the pressure - the resulting lineout the last chance for Farnham to snatch back a victory. However, GAB stood tall and eventually Nick Hall turned the ball over to complaints from the Farnham faithful and Alfie sent the ball into touch.

Final score Farnham Royal 2s 12 - 15 Gosford All Blacks 2s

A cracker of a game and the hugs and respect between both squads after showed the manner with which the game was played (if only more clubs behaved that way) and the competition between each man and his opposite number. Hopefully we can repay the favour and welcome Farnham back up to us soon.

Tap Social Man of the Match - Obviously Rich Tyler

Scorers
R Tyler - 3T