CHARD MATCH REPORT FOR SATURDAY 6TH JANUARY 2007 by GLYN HUGHES

SOMERSET PREMIER LEAGUE

CHARD   21PTS  GORDANO  5PTS

This was Chards tenth consecutive victory in all competitions and moved them up to 3rd place in the premier division.
 The game only went ahead because the club were able to transfer the game to their Crewkerne Road ground after the heavy morning rain had made the main pitch unplayable.
Chard were able to field a strong squad and tore into the opposition right from the start. Ben Stead made some telling runs from fullback and the extra space this position gives him appears to suit his style of play. Gordano defended well in the opening quarter and Chard were unable to get themselves on the score sheet until the 17th minute when Jordon Issacs successfully converted a penalty following some foul play by the visitors. The Chard forwards certainly had the measure of Gordano and were able to continually drive them back. It would only be a matter of time before the visitors would crack and after 24minutes play a superb textbook driving maul from 15 metres out sent Gordano backwards at a rate of knots  and prop forward Chris Bond went over under the posts for a lovely forwards try. Issacs converted to put Chard 10points clear. Chard increased their lead with another penalty just before half time but then nearly ruined their advantage when they failed to clear their lines properly and were caught offside. Gordano could see a clear opportunity to get back into the game and decided to go for a try rather than accept an easy 3 points. Fortunately the Chard defence was outstanding and they managed to hang on and were 13 points to the good at the interval which was at the very least a fair reflection of their superiority.
It did not look as if Gordano would be able to get back into the game but a series of events very close together in the second half gave the visitors every opportunity to do so. Firstly  the referee disallowed what looked like a very good Chard try when once again the forwards drove Gordano back over their own line from a lineout. The referee indicated that some of the forwards had done some illegal blocking so disallowed the ‘score.’ Within minutes Chard were reduced to 13 players when scrum half Richard Jones was sinbinned for illegal use of the boot in a ruck and within seconds skipper Jim Wagstaff was also binned for apparently committing a technical offence which deprived Gordano of the ball. Gordano were able to make Chard pay for these indiscretions and reduced the deficit when Aaron French darted over for smart try which was not converted. Suddenly from being in a very comfortable position Chard were suddenly up against it and Gordano began to believe they could get something  out of the game.  The 13 man Chard side raised their game and managed to get three points back from another successful penalty from Issacs. When both Jones and Wagstaff returned from the bin Chard had another penalty attempt but this sailed wide. However from the 22metre drop out that followed Chard won good possession and John Porter showed his class and made a lovely break and had just  enough energy in the heavy conditions to get over for an unconverted try to seal chards 10th win in succession.
This was an excellent win for Chard and sets them up well for the massive contest they face next week when they travel to play current league leaders Chew Valley who have also gone 10 games without defeat. Earlier in the season Chard should have beaten Chew at home but a lost in the dying seconds when Chew took advantage of  Chard losing a player to the sinbin and scored a last minute try to steal a victory
Chard will be taking a supporters coach to this game(£5 per person) and anybody interested should be at the club for a 12.30pm departure.
 CHARD TEAM:- DERMAN,HENDY,BOND,HENLEY, WRIGHT, PARSONS ,WAGSTAFF(CAPT) PORTER, JONES, ISSACS, TWIGG, HELLIAR,HERBERT, KING, STEAD. REPLACEMENTS NOT USED:- MACKIE, LEES, SINGLETON

NORTH DORSET 34PTS  CHARD 2ND XV 0PTS (DORSET AND WILTS LEAGUE 2 SOUTH)
Chard took a strong side to North Dorset with high hopes of pulling off a good win but with the home sides 1st xv fixture being cancelled Chard faced a useful outfit . It was a very good game but despite their efforts the Chard side were outdone by the greater quality in the home side.