Southampton 23 - 26 Farnborough

When the two sides met earlier in the season it was Southampton who pinched the game in the dying minutes. This time they were left reeling after letting a commanding lead slip to Farnborough. The home side could not have started better, as their big pack got the rolling maul working from the kick off and drove to within yards of the Farnborough line. It was then Fraser Chisholm who spotted a gap in the defence and forced his way over after only five minutes. The conversion was missed giving Saints an early 5-0 lead.

Southampton kept the pressure on, with Tom Morton slotting over a drop goal and a penalty, before full back Ryan Keary cut through the middle of the Farnborough defence to score the game’s second try. This time the conversion was successful, giving Saints an 18 - 0 lead after twenty minutes.

But if Southampton’s greatest strength was their powerful pack, Farnborough’s was definitely their back division and they switched their game plan and begun challenging Southampton out wide. The home side seemed to take their foot off the gas and allowed Farnborough back into the game while the visitors made good use of the ball they won. Ryan Keary put in two excellent try saving tackles, but the Farnborough kept the pressure on and got back into the game with a try as the Saints’ defence were appealing unsuccessfully for a knock on.

The conversion was missed but Farnborough were soon on the scoreboard again when a break by their lightning quick centres led to a second try inside five minutes. This time the conversion was successful, leaving the score 18-12 at half time.

The second half saw Saints attempting to find the sort of rugby that blew Farnborough away in the first twenty minutes, but they struggled to string together the multiple phases and rolling mauls that caused the visitors so many problems. Left winger Josh Pitt did add to the home side’s total when the ball was moved out wide quickly. He still had plenty to do but used his pace to evade the covering defender before diving in to score in the corner. The conversion was wide giving Southampton a 23-12 lead.

Farnborough closed the gap further when some missed tackles allowed them to break through and touch down, with the successful conversion bringing them within one score at 23-19. Southampton made some changes, bringing on Ian Mauger at flanker and Chubby at hooker, with Marcus Coffin moving to his preferred position at prop. Mauger made an immediate impact from the restart, excellently catching the kick off and setting up a promising attacking position. But Saints struggled to exert their authority as they had done in the opening quarter and were unable to add to the score. Things then got tougher as they went down to fourteen men when Lee Mauger was sinbinned for dangerous play at the ruck.

The final minutes proved tense, with Farnborough keeping the pressure on and catching the Saints defence in two minds about running clear or kicking for safety. In the end their indecision was costly as Farnborough turned over the ball and attacked the posts, sensing an upset. With a heavy suspicion of crossing, Farnborough evaded the defence and dived over the line to take the lead for the first time in the game. The conversion took them three points clear with ninety seconds remaining. Despite retaining the ball at the kick off, Saints were unable to find another score and Farnborough put the ball into touch to steal the win.

A massive disappointment for Southampton who played some excellent rugby that had the visitors thinking they were facing a potential cricket score. But as is so often the case, they were unable to maintain the standard and allowed Farnborough back into a game they could have killed off in the first half. Huge credit must go to Farnborough, who realised they were fighting a losing battle against Saints’ pack and instead used the pace and strength of their excellent backs to devastating effect.

Notable individual performances came from Ryan Keary and Adam Zeller who both put in some great tackles, while Keary’s boot also put Southampton in some threatening positions. Collectively the forwards were initially unstoppable, often making twenty or thirty yards at a time, but as the game went on their dominance became less apparent as Farnborough’s switch of tactics largely took them out of the equation.

Southampton make the long journey to Millbrook next week and know they must not get complacent if they are to avenge last year’s narrow defeat. They clearly have bundles of ability and are capable of outplaying the best in the division, but they also need to keep their concentration for the full eighty if they are to get the league finish they deserve.

Saturday’s defeat sees Southampton slip to fifth while Romsey move up to fourth. There is now no room for mistakes if Saints are to achieve their target of a top three finish.