CHARD RUGBY REPORT
FOR
SATURDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 2007

SOMERSET PREMIER LEAGUE

CHARD 24PTS    KEYNSHAM 22PTS

This was without doubt the best game seen at Chard this season with Chard snatching a late but thoroughly deserved victory against top of the table Keynsham.

In perfect conditions and before the best crowd  of the season Chard turned on the style and despite the narrow win were overall the  better side and were unrecognisable from the shambolic outfit that performed at home two weeks ago
.
Make no mistake about it Keynsham were a very good outfit and Chard had to play really well to get this result.

The game started off fairly evenly but  Chard were given an early warning that mistakes would be punished and they fell behind when Paul Edson put Keynsham ahead with a beautifully struck long range penalty goal after only seven minutes play. Chard could have gone in front shortly afterwards following a good break by Ben Stead but with a clear overlap he cut inside only to be caught just short of the line. After eleven minutes a good forward drive brought Chard close to the Keynsham line where the visitors were adjudged to be offside and Nicholls levelled the scores with a penalty.The referee was quick to penalise the home side and they fell behind again when Edson converted another penalty goal after Chard failed to release the ball  properly. Nicholls got Chard level again with a successful penalty and after thirty minutes put Chard  ahead for the first time when  he again converted a penalty when Keynsham were caught offside.
The game was very evenly contested and it would take a bit of magic to score a try and it duly came from the most unlikely situation. Chard were under a lot of pressure and hooker Jon Hendy found himself in possession but isolated from his team mates. He jinked outside one man before surprising himself and everybody else with a quick burst inside another player before sending a lovely pass inside to skipper Jim Wagstaff who took the ball at pace and raced through to score under the posts. Nicholls converted and Chard led 16pts to  6pts at the break.
Chard were not happy with the referee but must realise that the penalty count against them in any match is far too  high and they were penalised on two occasions early in the second half from which Edson took full advantage to bring the score back to 16- 12. After eighteen minutes play Chard won a penalty and instead of taking the points opted positively to go for a try. It was a good decision because Chard went over for their second try of the afternoon when their outstanding player Johnny Porter was credited with the touchdown following good lineout possession. This was a well deserved score for Porter who had been a thorn in the side for Keynsham  throughout
with his tackling and ability to turn over the ball.
Both sides had players yellow carded for technical offences and after twenty five minutes play Keynsham pulled back three points again from the boot of Edson. With time running out Keynsham took the lead when they ran a short penalty quickly and caught Chard unawares. Richard Gay stormed over under the posts for a try which  Edson converted and suddenly against all the odds Keynsham found themselves holding a one point advantage with only minutes remaining. After last weeks narrow last minute defeat Chard must have felt the worst again but they battled hard and with seconds remaining Chard were awarded a penalty way out on the left hand side of the pitch. Having missed a big kick  last week Nicholls must have felt nervous but he certainly did not show it and slotted the ball perfectly through the posts to give Chard a fantastic and thoroughly deserved win.
This really was a fine win for Chard and with players returning from injury there is more competition for places which can only be a good thing. Prop Clive Derman and fly half  McKerrow  are  particularly worthy of mention but Porter was clearly man of the match in what was a fine team performance.

Chard had a comfortable win against Crewkerne in Somerset 3 south.

Next week Chard 1st xv are away at Midsomer Norton in yet another difficult Premier league game. There is also a Dorset and Wlilts league match at home to Dorchester 2nds and a Somerset division 3 south game away against Midsomer Norton. All games kicking off at 2.30pm