FARNHAM 32, SALTASH 21

FARNHAM added a cup final at Twickenham to their London 3 South-West title in the club’s most successful season ever.

English rugby’s HQ will stage Cup Finals Day on Saturday, May 6 and Farnham will feature on the programme when they meet northern champions Droitwich in the RFU Senior Vase final.

A terrific day at Monkton Lane on Saturday culminated in a deserved win for Farnham over classy Cornish contenders Saltash.

If ever there was a day when rugby was the winner – this was it.

The visitors were greeted with the biggest Kernow Flag possible and a welcome in Cornish, while over 190 sat for lunch and many more enjoyed burgers and chips.

A breeze blowing diagonally across from the school corner was to play a part in a full-blooded game, watched by a bumper crowd.

Both sides stormed out of the blocks in search of a quick breakthrough, and it was Farnham who secured an emphatic lead, despite playing against the elements.

Skipper Mike Salmon burst onto turn-over ball and with Saltash’s defending backs turned, scrum-half Oliver Brown took the move on and sent winger Ben Jones over for the opening try. Toby Salmon, kicking into the wind, missed a difficult conversion.

From the kick-off, Saltash showed their pedigree. Scrum-half Dom Mulberry rifled fast and accurate passes to set his backs in motion. After being held five metres out, the visitors opted for a penalty and the line-out, only to be promptly sacked by Pete Daly.

Saltash had done their homework, though, and Joe Ronayne seemed to be reading Farnham’s calls at the line-outs, causing havoc as the Surrey side lost four in a row.

With the scrums at parity, Farnham were forced to live off scraps and the tension was palpable as the sides took turns to exert pressure.

Wingers Ed Weeks – later to be named man of the match – and Jones were forced into try-saving tackles as the hosts defended their line. Then, on the half-hour, Farnham scored a second, crucial, try.

Again Mike Salmon made the initial break and after forays by Toby Comley and James Franklin, full-back Gabe Hills squeezed through a gap to score wide out.

Conversion missed, but the home side were starting to rumble. Jordan Frost, the first replacement used, made good ground before finding James Corlett who sent Comley over under the posts. Easier for Toby Salmon, and it was 17-0.

From the restart, the Saltash backs hit their straps and the pace of the game moved up another gear. The visitors had dominated possession for no reward, but registered their first points with a fine try by centre Shaun Crawford, converted by Harrison Reburn, after an explosive cut-back had wrong-footed Farnham’s defence.

The Cornishmen were promptly penalised for not releasing and a superb kick by Mike Salmon sent Farnham in with a healthy 20-7 lead – with the wind advantage to come.

The second half was bruising and absorbing in equal measure and with the Salmon brothers turning the Saltash defence with monstrous wind-assisted kicks, Farnham opened up what seemed a decisive lead.

Ten minutes in, Weeks weaved his way down the left touchline and cut inside before being tackled a metre short and Brown was on hand to pop the ball up to Jason Crabb who plunged over for a try that was only confirmed after a discussion between referee and touch judge.

Farnham’s 25-7 advantage with 20 minutes to go then became 32-7 with 10 minutes left.

With Farnham awarded the scrum after a sweeping attack, Daly won the ball and sucked in several defenders before freeing up Toby Salmon who squirmed and twisted the final three metres to score under the posts. Salmon Snr converted and it seemed to be game over.

Saltash had other ideas and Ryan Cruickshanks reduced the deficit after being released by Greg Eatwell, and again Reburn converted.

It was all Saltash in the closing exchanges and in the last minute Greg Eatwell, who was in the squad alongside brother Phil and dad Rob, added a further try, which Kieran Downs converted.

But this was the last kick of the match. Farnham had already done more than enough to clinch their day at Twickenham.

A great win for Farnham against worthy opponents from Saltash.

Farnham President’s Podium Points: Weeks 3, Daly 2, Brown 1.

* Droitwich defeated Tarleton 23-11 in the northern semi-final. Droitwich have stormed through their league season, winning all 21 of their matches (scoring 801 points in the process) to lead the Midlands 3 West (South) by 29 points going into the last round of fixtures this weekend.

* Farnham’s match against Droitwich will be one of four finals played at Twickenham on May 6. The Junior Vase match starts the day, followed by the Senior Vase final at 1pm. Then comes the Intermediate Cup final and the National U20 Championship final.