CHARD RUGBY REPORT FOR SATURDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER 2007
BY
GLYN HUGHES
SOMERSET PREMIER LEAGUE

CHARD 35pts PTS GORDANO 23PTS
Chard  were forced to make a number of changes for this game and were further inconvenienced when lock forward Jamie Adams got injured in the pre-match warm up. He was replaced by the reliable Roger Summers.
Chard started off in second gear and Gordano looked much the better side in the opening exchanges and went
ahead after sixteen minutes play when Chard were caught offside at the breakdown and fullback Matt Boyles successfully kicked the resultant penalty goal.
The visitors then capitalised on the fact that Chard were unable to deal with a high ball and Aaron French raced over to score under the posts. Boyles added the extras and there was no doubt that at this stage that Gordano were well worth their ten point advantage.
It was well past the half hour before Chard put their mark on the game and not surprisingly it came when some quick thinking by the forwards allowed Mark Parsons to crash over from five metres out for a try which Paul Nicholls converted.
Gordano were hit with a double wammy because almost immediately Chard scored a superb second try when winger Mike Farthing touched down under the posts. Farthing had put the finishing touches to a lovely piece of play which had opened up the visitors defence down the left wing. Skipper Wagstaff linked well with Parsons before feeding the ball to Farthing who took the ball at pace to score. Nicholls added the conversion points.
On the balance of play Gordano could count themselves rather unfortunate to be down 14 10 at the break but the game is all about taking your chances and Chard certainly did that.
In the second half Chard looked by far the stronger side and Nicholls increased their lead with a penalty goal  three minutes into the half although this was soon cancelled out by a similar effort from Boyles.
Summers caught the ball well from the lineout and the well drilled Chard pack drove over the Gordano line for a try which was credited to Hendy who had only just come on as a replacement. Nicholls failed with his conversion attempt but Chard now had a 22 13 advantage.
Gordano hit back with their second try when Mike Yandell went over for an unconverted effort
Despite this try from Gordano Chard were looking very powerful and scored three times in fairly quick succession to put the final result in no doubt. Initially Nicholls kicked a penalty goal and this was followed by two more quality tries. Chard spurned a relatively straight forward penalty, kicked for the corner, Summers again won the  lineout and not surprisingly Hendy appeared from nowhere to grab the ball and score his second try of the game.
Parsons, Johnny Porter then created space for the impressive Matt Ousley to go over for Chards fifth try of the game. Both of these tries were unconverted but Chard now held an impressive 35 18 advantage.
 In the dying moments of the game a harmless looking kick ahead by Gordano crossed the Chard line and appeared to be touched down by winger James Herbert. The ball went loose and when the alert French dived on the ball the referee awarded the score much to the surprise of everybody. It did not matter in the scheme of things and Chard ran out comfortable winners to remain unbeaten.

Somerset 3 south.      Chard were due to play Weston Hornets at home last Saturday in this league but although the visitors confirmed the game they failed to appear and left 18 players, a referee and hard working kitchen staff very frustrated. Chard were given the points but would obviously have preferred to play.

Next Saturday Chard 1st xv travel to Bath to play newly promoted Old Sulians and the club also have a Somerset 3 south league match at Minehead. Both games kick off at 3pm.
There are no games at home next Saturday but the clubhouse will be open to watch the world cup match between England and Samoa which starts at 3pm.