CHARD RUGBY REPORTS FOR SATURDAY 9TH FEBRUARY 2008

SOMERSET PREMIER LEAGUE    CHARD 12PTS TOR 20PTS

Chard had beaten Tor convincingly at Glastonbury before Christmas and were expected to gain a comfortable win. However Tor were fighting a big relegation battle and came to Chard in a determined mood.
Chard made three changes in their team with Taz Bailey, Paul Wright and Alan Henley coming back into their squad.
Tor started the game strongly and Chard had to defend desperately. It came as no surprise when the visitors created an overlap and opened the scoring with an unconverted try in the corner. After 20 minutes play Tor scored  a second try with the Chard defence all over the place. This time the try was converted and Tor were 12pts ahead. Within minutes Tor created more space out wide and went over for their third try of the game and Chard were looking a beaten side. Tor could have taken an even bigger lead into the interval but thankfully from Chards point of view the Tor kicker was having an off day.
Coach Broome had some strong words to say to his side at the break and Chard went into the second half of the match with a different attitude and game plan. They began to play a lot better but were forced to make changes because of an injury to Mike Farthing. Skipper Wagstaff moved into the backs and Chard brought on Robin Singleton in the front row. Singleton scored almost immediately when he drove over for a try following a lineout.
Nicholls added the extras and the home side were back in the game. Chard pulled back some more points when Bailey went over for their second try and Chard were looking as if they might be capable of coming back to win. However Time was running out and Tor were awarded a penalty kick which they successfully converted to go two scores clear.
Chard have now not won a league match since before Christmas and they will have to up their efforts if they are to get back to the winning habit they had earlier in the season.
Chard are without a 1st xv game next Saturday.

SOMERSET 3 SOUTH  CHARD 3RDS 44PTS    TAUNTON 3RDS 18PTS

This was probably the best performance of the season for the Chard side against top of the table Taunton.
Chard have a lot of very young players in their side and they have developed well during the year and this result was proof of the progress they have made.
Chard started off with a bang and scored in the opening minutes when Stuart Gold  showed a good turn of speed to outpace his opposite number and score a great try. Skipper Wallis converted.
Taunton put Chard under a lot of pressure at times but the experienced members of the Chard side particularly back row forward Roger Summers kept things in control and this created confidence for all the younger members  who were eager to show their pace and flair. The star of the show for Chard was Matt Tinley who in addition to having a good all round game also scored a stunning try.
Gold got another try for Chard before having to leave the field with a suspected collar bone injury. Chard reorganised themselves well and added further tries through Summers. Andy Mckerrow, Danny Crabb, and Billy Vernon. Wallis got a total of three conversions and a penalty and Chard thoroughly deserved this victory against the leagues strongest side who had beaten Chard earlier in the season by a similar score.