Cobham maintain league leadership with fifty point victory

Another excellent performance by Cobham and with the season half completed they continued their unbeaten run in the league to retain their position at the top of the league.

Cobham were almost at full strength, with skipper Billy Davison temporarily unavailable, and in a superb first half display ran in six tries with visitors Farnham only managing a penalty goal.

Cobham were solid in the scrums and the lineout, with the well organised forwards winning their own possession in good style, allowing the pacy Cobham threequarters to attack the opposition at tremendous speed. Winger James Dampier scored two tries before having to leave the field through injury and full back Nick Sutton ran in another two tries either side of half time to put the result beyond doubt.

Farnham had a solid pack and in the second half managed to play a tighter game at the scrum, and rucking quite trongly when they had possession. The performance of the two sides was closer in the second half but Cobham showed their magnificent skill with the support play of the forwards matching the skills of the speedy backs, running in an excellent try for Matt Lawrence for Cobham's eighth and final try.

But Farnham were far from disheartened and continued to play strongly, being justly rewarded with the last try of the match to make the scoreline more respectable.

Farnham kicked off at the start of the match, making good ground into the Cobham 22 and were awarded a penalty for a minor Cobham late tackle to take an early lead.

Cobham's response was instantaneous, Spencer Franks making a tactical kick deep into the Farnham half and from the lineout Matt Hahn made a clean catch, the forwards drove over the line and Mark Bennett scored Cobham's first try, Dan Taylor converting. Matt Lawrence fielded the re-start to run back at pace and made a significant advance into Farnham territory, the ball was spun across the threequarter line and right wing James Dampier showed his pace on the other wing to sprint in for a well taken try.

Farnham tried to attack with a long kick but it was fielded well by Spencer Franks whose long pass to the advancing Nick Sutton created space for a fast run through the Farnham defence, his pass to Matt Lawrence allowed the winger to sprint in for Cobham's third try.

Cobham were now in charge in both tight and loose play, and after gaining possession in their own half, Spencer Franks initiated another threequarter attack, the ball being fed to James Dampier on the half way line for the winger to sprint around the Farnham cover defence to score a try in the corner. The speed of the Cobham forwards was also too much for the visitors, skipper Jack Davison bursting at pace through several tackles and his pass to Gavin Hart gave Cobham's No8 the opportunity to charge over the line for a super try, Dan Taylor converting. Although down by 31-3 Farnham continued to play strongly and had a few good attacks in the Cobham half, causing Matt Hahn and Jack Davison to put in some good tackles to prevent Farnham tries. Just before half time Farnham attacked deep in the Cobham half, but when the tackles went in, the ball went loose for Dan Taylor to run back at the Farnham defence, making good ground, and he was able to pass to the supporting Nick Sutton who ran in for a superb try.

Cobham continued playing with their exceptional style at the start of the second half, Imile Keyser almost scoring in Cobham's opening attack. Farnham were attempting a more solid defence but were quickly overcome with two quick tries. Firstly, Spencer Franks passed the ball out rapidly from a Cobham penalty, the ball went across the Cobham threequarter line and Nick Sutton finished off the move at pace, sprinting in for his second try.

Cobham then took possession in the next moments, Imile Keyser providing an excellent overhead pass to James Oliver whose accurate chip kick ahead beat the opposition defence and Matt Lawrence followed it up at speed to pick up and sprint in for the best try of the match. With fifteen minutes still to play, Cobham made a couple of changes, James Green and Ben Pickett coming on to provide fresh support and they were both needed as Farnham continued to press strongly for a score. Farnham had realised that the there was no point kicking tactically to the Cobham threequarter line as this would just result in a scoring counter attack, and decided to retain the ball in the pack. The change eventually proved successful, Farnham scoring a try in the final minutes from a catch and drive at a lineout five metres out from the Cobham line.

The second half was far more competitive, but Cobham again showed that their performance level and style of play are extremely difficult for any other side in this league.

Cobham: N Sutton, J Dampier, M Green, J Oliver, M Lawrence ; D Taylor, S Franks; T Lee, M Bennett, A Daryll-Warren, M Hahn, I Keyser, S Mills, J Davison (Capt), G Hart

Report by Tony Maddocks