CHARD RUGBY CLUB
MATCH REPORTS FOR SATURDAY 16th SEPTEMBER 2006
BY
GLYN HUGHES
SOMERSET PREMIER LEAGUE

COMBE DOWN 1ST XV 13PTS    CHARD 1STXV 14PTS

Chard competed really well and thoroughly deserved to pull off their second successive away victory in the league which of course maintains their unbeaten start to the season.
Chard were forced to make several changes to their squad because of injury and county colts trials  and resources were so depleted that they had to travel with only one replacement.
 Chard played up the slight slope in the opening half and were under severe pressure in the opening 5 minutes of the game. In fact how Combe Down failed to score during this period of play was quite baffling. The pattern of play changed when a stroke of good fortune combined with some superb defensive play. The home side attempted a drop goal and the resultant kick hit the cross bar and rebounded back into the hands of Ben Stead. He went to ground immediately and the Chard forwards re-cycled the ball perfectly which allowed fly half Twigg to clear the ball with a monster kick up field. The visitors now settled down and started to play some delightful rugby. Every body was involved but it was Chard vice captain Parsons and fullback Findlay who really stood out. Parsons was superb throughout the game and his tackling and ball carrying skills were of the highest order. Findlay ran at the home defence at every opportunity and his pace and jinking runs were a constant threat.
 Chard had to score and it came after some quick thinking by scrum half Jones. Chard were awarded a penalty which in most circumstances they would have kicked but on this occasion Jones tapped the ball quickly made a nice break and linked up well with Hooker Jon Hendy who had the pace to get over the line. Findlay converted and chard led 7pts to nil.
 Combe Down were trying to take advantage of the slope and after 30mins.  a long kick downfield caught Chard out of position. The ball was knocked on and picked up by a retreating Chard player who was clearly offside.  Combe Down quickly took the penalty that was correctly awarded and Mike Farthing who had not retreated 10 metres instinctively tacked the home player. He was yellow carded by the referee and had to spend 10 minutes in the sin bin. Chard were really stretched during this period and it was no surprise when they folded under the pressure and the home side got back into the game with a try which they failed to convert even though the kick was virtually under the posts. Indeed the inability of Combe Down to kick well would ultimately cost them the game.
Just before half time a stroke of good fortune helped the home side to go into a halftime lead they scarcely deserved. The ball bounced awkwardly from a lineout and fell nicely into their hands which allowed them to score another unconverted try and lead 10pts to 7 pts at the break.
Chard were back to full strength after the break but failure to deal with a high ball in the opening few minutes cost them a penalty which was duly kicked and the home side now had a 6pt advantage.
 Chard were playing all the rugby and Parsons was very unfortunate when he went over for what looked like a certain try but the referee said he had not grounded the ball properly. However after 20mins of the half Chard were rewarded for their excellent play when Farthing cut inside at great pace and then passed to Ben King who made no mistake and scored a great try. Findlay converted and Chard now had a one point lead.
 Chard gave the significant numbers of their supporters who had travelled to the game some heart stopping moments but in reality Chard despite their supposed lack of strength were in fact by far the better side on the day and deserved to win. In the 5th minute of injury time Combe Down were awarded a penalty some 60 metres out but once again they failed with the boot and Chard maintained their unbeaten start to the season. Frazer Mackie who had sat out last weeks game on the bench played well as did all the others who were drafted in and the selectors should have a nice problem next week.

NEXT SATURDAY THE 1STXV ARE AT HOME TO MIDSOMER NORTON  KICK OFF 3PM.
 
THE CLUB WOULD ENCOURAGE AS MANY SUPPORTERS AS POSSIBLE TO COME ALONG AND GET BEHIND  CHARD
Midsomer Norton have also had an unbeaten star to the season and are generally considered to be the league favourites after two big early season wins.
Chard team
C. DERMAN, J. HENDY,  C. BOND, J. WAGSTAFF(CAPT) P WRIGHT, M PARSONS, F MACKIE, R SUMMERS, R. JONES,
J. TWIGG, B. STEAD, B. KING, J HERBERT, M FARTHING, J. FINDLAY. REPLACEMENT. T. RICHARDSON

Dorset and Wilts League 2 South

Chard 2nd xv 8pts    Sherborne 2nd Xv 0pts

After a heavy defeat last week in the friendly against Wellington Chard came back well and pulled off a good win against a useful Sherborne side in this their first league match of the season following promotion from division 3 last season.

The 2nd xv suffered the knock on effects of the selection problems in the 1st xv and fielded a side which was mixture of youth and experience. 17year old colts  David Baker and Nick Manning gave the side some much needed pace  and the likes of Mick Duffy, Jon King and Jamie Adams added the vital ingredient of experience
Skipper Lee Brun was delighted with the spirit and enthusiasm of his team and it was Brun who gave his side a narrow lead just before half time with a penalty goal.
In the second half Mike Summers added an unconverted try and chard controlled the game  particularly well with fly half Andy Mckerrow having a very good game.

Next week Chard 2nd xv have a league match away at Ivel Barbarians  ko 3pm