Saints v Farnborough

Saints lined up without a number of 1st team regulars, including Captain Pierre Molyneux and influential prop Bean, whilst the backs saw a welcome injection of pace with the return of Mark Waterer at full back, with Julian Robbins moving to outside centre.

It was a dream start for Saints, who immediately won a penalty when Farnborough failed to release. Griff found touch just short of the Farnborough line to give an immediate attacking platform. From the line out, Southampton called a training-ground move which saw Tony Cador looping round to take the ball and cut through the Farnborough line, which hadn't reacted to his run. Dave Griff's conversion attempt fell short, but Saints were leading 5-0 after two minutes.

Saints had been dominating opposition packs in recent weeks, but this soon changed when hooker Ginger and a Farnborough player squared up to each other, leading to both spending 10 minutes on the Naughty Step. Farnborough couldn't replace the front row, meaning the game saw uncontested scrums for ten minutes. With Saints unable to pressurise the 'Boro pack, the visitors were able to use the strong wind at their backs to pin Saints in their own half. With Saints' defence looking reasonably solid, Boro opted to kick over the top. A wicked bounce wrong-footed full back Waterer, but winger Dave Ward got his foot to the ball ahead of the chasing Boro player, prodding it over the dead ball line. Farnborough took the lead soon after in similar fashion, when another chip over the top evaded the defence and was collected by the chasing Farnborough player. The conversion was successful giving the visitors a 5-7 lead.

The second half saw much of the same for Saints. With the wind now behind them they kicked away possession on a number of occasions, while they seemed to struggle to string together multiple phases of play going forward. Farnborough rarely looked threatening and it was another game Saints should have taken by the scruff of the neck: but failed. Lee Mauger also did ten minutes in the sin bin, which cost the pack some momentum, while the strong wind was making it difficult to get the line-outs straight.

But the decisive blow came from another Farnborough chip and chase. The fly-half hacked the ball over the top, chased through and beat the Saints defence to the ball. He crossed wide on the left, but the conversion was irrelevant as Boro took the victory 5-12.

Another costly defeat for Saints. Despite lacking some big names, they need to raise their game in all areas and start earning league points. Bottom of the table after three games, Southampton host Sandown and Shanklin next week in a game they MUST win.