CHARD RUGBY REPORT FOR SATURDAY 8TH MARCH 2008 FROM GLYN HUGHES

SOMERSET PREMIER LEAGUE   GORDANO 24PTS CHARD 19PTS

In the first half of the season Chard were always able to come out on top in these close encounters but in the last three months the reverse has been true and so Saturdays narrow defeat against bottom club  Gordano although hugely disappointing was not really that much of a surprise and  Chard are really struggling to regain the winning habit.
They certainly threw away a golden chance in this game when they allowed a substantial early lead to be eroded by the hosts and Chard must now be wondering where their next win is coming from.
Skipper Jim Wagstaff returned for this game but Chard were without centre Matt Ousley who suffered a rib injury in last weeks defeat against Old Suliuans. Rob Hall and Roger Summers also came into the Chard side.
Chard played with the wind in the first half and put their hosts under a lot of pressure from the kickoff. This pressure had an immediate reward when Alan Henley charged down an attempted clearance kick and scored close to the posts. Paul Nicholls converted to put Chard seven points clear and within a short time Chard had doubled their lead. Johnny Porter worked a fine scissors movement with Wagstaff and scorched through to score Chards second try which again was converted by Nicholls.
At this point it really looked as if Chard would get back to winning ways but somehow they contrived to allow Gordano back into the game and the home side fought back well to score two converted tries of their own to bring the scores level by half time.
The doubts began to appear in the Chard performance and a series of dropped passes in the second half  encouraged the home side who deservedly went in front in the  with a third converted try and a penalty.
Chard responded with a third try coming from number 8 forward Mark Parsons but once again the recent pattern of events ran true to form and Chard  narrowly failed to record a victory in a game they would have been expected to win comfortably.

SOMERSET DIVISION 3 SOUTH           CHARD 63PTS CREWKERNE 0PTS

Chards youngsters were well marshalled by the experienced Neil King, Richard Larcombe and Andy McKerrow and were far too powerful for a weak  and depleted but enthusiastic Crewkerne side. The game went ahead thanks to Club stalwart Tim Glenn taking over from the appointed  referee who was unavoidable not available at the last minute.
King and Giles Lock were a powerful presence in the Chard front row and scrum half Finn O'Brien had a great game in his first match back following an  injury sustained in the opening game of the season. However the star of the Chard side without doubt was back row forward Carl Abercrombie who was outstanding throughout.
Chard scored five tries in the first half with these coming from Larcombe, O'Brien, Billy Vernon, Jamie Adams  and Abercrombie and six in the second half which were scored by McKerrow, Adams 2, Lock, Damien Pearce and Terry Chard whose fine effort was his first for the club. Rhys Williams added 4 conversions .
The compassionate referee  called an early halt to proceedings  and both sides escaped  to the clubhouse to  watch England fail miserably against Scotland.

Next Saturday Chard have a home fixture against Midsomer Norton in Somerset 3 south kick off at 2 30pm although this kick off time may be brought forward  if both teams agree  in order for the teams to watch the televised England v Ireland game at Twickenham.
At this point in time no other Chard side has a scheduled game but the club may well try and pick up a game from the exchange scheme.