Latest Match Reports
Farnham 15-18 Croydon (2010-02-06)
Steve shuffles the pack
When the season’s fixture list was published, this was a free Saturday so skipper Craig Bond plus 4 first choice forwards agreed to attend a stag weekend away. Then the January snow led to this rearranged match so Croydon travelled to Farnham with a threadbare squad of merely 17, with only 8 forwards including 4 props.
Farnham’s pitch was a quagmire and the early signs were ominous. Croydon failed to deal with the kick off, were wheeled off their first 6 set scrums and their first line out was badly controlled leading to a soft try for Farnham. A penalty quickly followed and after 15 minutes Croydon were looking down the barrel.
At this point, veteran forward, Steve Griffiths literally shuffled the pack and the rearranged formation began to establish an element of stability enabling the visitors to get into the match.
After 25 minutes Croydon reduced the arrears. A tap penalty by Sam Gleig and a series of forward drives led to a 5 metre scrum from which Benson Mburu broke blind to put Mike Pedersen in at the corner.
Alex Warsop leveled things with a penalty on 42 minutes and 12 minutes later Croydon took the lead. Sam Clarkson initiated a long break down the right, the forwards took it on and quick ball from the loose enabled Warsop to slip in under the posts.
Farnham responded and Pedersen and Sam Curtis pulled heroic last ditch tackles before the pressure told with a converted try in the corner.
Croydon responded immediately with another Warsop penalty and then withstood a late barrage to secure victory which was testament to a huge effort from all 17 members of the squad.
Scores:
CROYDON: Tries: Pedersen 25, Warsop 54, Pens Warsop 42,67 Conv Warsop 54
FARNHAM: Tries:13,61 Pen 16, Conv 61
CROYDON:
1. Dom Plumb
2. Anthony Abou-Zeid
3. Gareth Moss
4. Bill Simons
5. Steve Griffiths
6. John Wilds
7. Sam Gleig
8. Dave Thornton
9. Benson mburu ( Will Curtis )
10.Alex warsop
11.Toru Higuchi
12.Sam Clarkson
13.Chris Friend ( Richard Woodhams)
14.Mike Pedersen
15.Sam Curtis
