CHARD RUGBY REPORT FOR SATURDAY 11TH NOVEMBER 2006 BY GLYN HUGHES
SOMERSET PREMIER LEAGUE
CHARD 1ST XV 37PTS  NAILSEA AND BACKWELL 14PTS

Chard made it third time lucky when they at last managed to record a home league win to add to the four wins they have achieved on the road. Nailsea had managed a good win the previous week against Tor and were expected to provide stiff opposition for the home side. With Internationals live on TV the  home crowd was somewhat smaller than usual but those that did turn up were treated to a very entertaining match. The start was fairly evenly contested and Nailsea looked quite sharp in the backs but a lightweight looking pack of forwards did not look as if they would be able to contain a useful Chard eight for too long.  Chard went ahead after 8mins when having elected to kick a penalty to touch rather than accept an easy 3pts they successfully controlled the ensuing lineout and Robin (Bushy) Singleton crashed over for a fine but unconverted try. After 20mins Nailsea were caught offside in front of their own posts and Full back Finlay succeeded with the penalty. Chard were now well in control of the game and some slick inter play between Wagstaff and Herbert set up Parsons for what would be the first of two tries that he would score during the match. Finlay added the conversion to put Chard 15pts clear and seemingly well in control.  Chard then started to move away from the agreed game plan and a failure to clear their lines properly gave Nailsea some hope of getting back into the match. Chard have a habit of giving tries away just before the interval and once again this was the case. To be fair to Nailsea it was a superb try after some wonderful handling skills but the move did start from a Chard mistake. Tom Crossman got the score and Tony Hill converted to make the score 15pts to 7pts at half time.
At the beginning of the second half Chard were unable to find touch from their defensive kicks and it came as no surprise when after one such failure Nailsea counterattacked and went over for their 2nd try which was duly converted to put them within a point of their hosts. Game on !! The visitors now had their tails up and it looked for a short period as if Chard would again struggle to win at home especially when Scrum half Jones was sin binned for foul play just as his side had got themselves back into a strong position. All Chard had to do was to calm the situation down and play the game the way they wanted to play it and this proved to be the case. Mackie won good lineout ball and the ball flew down the threequarter line to Herbert who raced into the right hand corner for an unconverted try. Almost immediately Chard won another penalty and opted to kick to touch.  They went through one of their well rehearsed lineout moves and Parsons finished things off with his second try of the game.. Finlay converted and added a penalty goal to take Chard up to 30pts. The Nailsea fullback had been sailing close to the wind with some unsavoury foul play usually on the blindside of the referee but he got his comeuppance when in the dying minutes of the game he blatantly fouled Finlay as he cut past him. The referee yellow carded the player and awarded Chard a penalty try which was converted to leave them comfortable winners. A good result for Chard but also a reminder that no team in this league can afford to switch off thinking that all they have to do is to go through the motions to win.
CHARD TEAM;- SINGLETON, HENDY, BOND, HENLEY, PARSONS, WRIGHT, PORTER, MACKIE,. JONES, TWIGG, HELLIAR, WAGSTAFF, KING, HERBERT, FINLAY. REPLACEMENTS  NICHOLLS (FOR KING 55MINS)  T.JONES NOT USED.

SALISBURY 30PTS CHARD 2NDS 15PTS (DORSET AND WILTS LEAGUE)

Chard skipper Lee Brun once again had to rue the fact that a lack of training together once again was probably the main reason his side failed to win a game they were surely capable of doing. Chard have not been out of their depth at all in this league but need to get more organisation into their play if they are to win these close encounters. Tries came from Rocket Jones and Richard Larcombe with Stuart Gold adding a conversion and a penalty.

WIVELISCOMBE 3RDS 41PTS CHARD 3RDS 12PTS

The score was 12pts each at half time with Barry Pullen and Wayne Lewis scoring tries for Chard and Lewis adding a conversion. Having had their 2nd xv match at home cancelled at the last minute Wivey had quite a lot of useful replacements available and this extra energy in the second half put paid to any chance Chard had of winning the game. Chard also took off their two most influential and experienced players….Kevin Templeman and Trevor Smith in the latter stages of the game and they claimed of course that this was the major reason for Chards 2nd half demise!

NEXT SATURDAY CHARD 1ST XV HAVE A HOME LEAGUE GAME AGAINST BATH SIDE STOTHERT AND PITT AND PLAY AGAIN ON SUNDAY AT HOME TO CREWKERNE IN THE SOMERSET CUP. BOTH GAMES KO AT 2 30pm
NEXT SATURDAY THE 2ND XV ARE AWAY AT NORTH PETHERTON AND THE 3RDS ARE AT CREWKERNE BOTH KO AT 2.30pm.