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Haslemere Llamas / Vets XV
4th November 2006 Haslemere Vets 17, Farnham Vets 19
(written by Club Captain Digby Daly in large print for the hard-of-seeing)
With Haslemere putting out three sides for the first time this season, the Vets found themselves one player short and without many of their more established players, further handicapped by players having to play out of their comfort zone positions.
Having lost the toss Haslemere had to play the first half looking into the bright Autumnal sun; they managed to put pressure on the Farnham line but were unable to keep possession of the ball and Farnham cleared their lines with a kick up field causing chaos in Haslemere's half. After a fumble by the full back a kick ahead led to the first Farnham try.
The game was marked by the ineptitude of the Haslemere forwards to compete at the set scrum and lineout so their backs were always starved of any decent possession, however scrum half Joffi Smith, with his jinking runs, and fly half Pete Daly, with large frame, both looked dangerous on the ball and made great breaks one of which resulted in a fine try by hooker Brian Ward, who bundled over the line.
Farnham's second try came from another kick ahead which took a wicked bounce in Haslemere's dead ball area and fell nicely for Farnham's winger. Half time score was 7-12 to Farnham.
The second half saw Farnham start with renewed vigour and straight away they put pressure on Haslemere forwards winning a lineout and being awarded a penalty. From the resulting kick they won the lineout and scored in the corner. This try woke Haslemere as they didn't deserve to end up on the wrong side of a cricket score.
Further sorties into the Farnham half resulted in a penalty to Haslemere; the ball was fed to Pete Daly who bulldozed through the defence to score in the left corner.
This try served to take Haslemere to new heights of energy and with 2 minutes to go Pete Daly scored his second try again obliterating the defence.
This was a spirited performance by Haslemere and with a bit more cohesion in the forwards they could have been victorious. The next game is scheduled against Petersfield on the 18th November.
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