Following the success of the Men’s U23 programme at Farnham RUFC in recent years, it was the turn of the Women to play the Club’s first ever female U23 game on Sunday 29th December. A crowd of several hundred were in attendance at Wilkinson Way for the match against a combined Guildfordians & Cranleigh team.

Defences were on top in the first half with Emily Rigby, Evie Flew & Hattie Stockham all prominent for Farnham. The visitors finally scored an unconverted try after 25 minutes before number 8 Isabella Newnes-Smith broke free near the half way line and strode away from the opposition to score Farnham’s first try just before the break, which captain Tegan Larvan converted. 7-5 to Farnham at half time.

Cranfordians powerful pack started the 2nd half in top form and Farnham conceded 3 close range tries to trail 20-7 after 60 minutes and the home team were staring down the barrel of a big defeat. But the Farnham women rallied and as the visitors started to tire strong carries from Lucy Harris & Liv Price paved the way for Ella Barker to score Farnham’s second try, which Larvan again converted. Next up came the try of the game from a scrum deep in Farnham’s 22. Front rowers Tilly Poland, Abi Mason & Summer Beach provided a solid base, Rebecca Johnston’s cross kick found Izzy Cuervo-Moraga who fed Mimi McArthur, whose gorgeous outside break and pace took play deep into Cranfordians territory. Quick recycled ball & the omnipresent flanker Rosie Peet had plenty to do but powered over at the foot of the posts leaving several opposition players in her wake, Larvan added the extras again leaving Farnham with a slender 21-20 lead. More pressure led to another tap penalty by Larvan who fed Newnes-Smith, who dummied her way over for a 4th try, Phoebe Foskett added the extras, to seal a 28-20 win.

The game provided another fantastic memory for a special group of players, who now look forward to doing it all again at Easter.