CHARD RUGBY REPORT FOR SATURDAY 17TH FEBRUARY 2007
BY
GLYN HUGHES

Heavy rain in the week left the main pitch at Essex Close in poor condition which resulted in the Somerset Premier league match against Old Redcliffians being postponed.

DORSET AND WILTS LEAGUE DIVISION 2 SOUTH

BOURNE MOUTH  27pts   CHARD 5pts

Chard had a very lightweight pack of forwards and as a result Bournemouth exploited this weakness in the Chard side and got away to a great start by scoring three early tries by driving the Chard side back over their own  line from both set piece and maul. These early disasters  prompted 2nd xv coach John Wallis  to instruct the side to run everything from any position to try and tire the home forwards and to exploit the pace in the Chard backs. The plan worked well and Chard played some excellent rugby for the rest of the first half . Chard should have scored several tries but unbelievably poor handling close to the home line cost them dear and many chances to reduce the deficit were missed when a score looked certain.
The second half was very similar to the first with Bournemouth attempting to keep things  tight and Chard playing expansive rugby. Unfortunately Chard were unable to stop the home side from scoring two more forward dominated tries but Chard eventually got on the score sheet when following good play by Finn O’Brien and Stuart Gold  Zack Pinear touched down in the corner. A thoroughly deserved score for Chard but it should have been one of many if truth be told.

WELLS 3RD XV   10PTS   CHARD 3RDS    34PTS

Chard skipper Mike Berry commented that he could not remember playing on such a surface for a very long time!
This was quite a fiery encounter which the referee found difficult to manage but fortunately the ‘old uns’ in the Chard side kept things in check  and  led their side to a deserved victory. Chard played down the slope in the first half and went ahead with tries from Ryan Helliar,  Herbie James and Mick Duffy who scored his customary try from the back of a set piece. Andy Hopper converted one of the tries but Wells responded with two late tries of their own to only trail 17- 10 at the break. Chard expected to struggle up the slope in the second half but upset the young Wells side by turning in an excellent performance and scoring three additional tries. Duffy proved he could score from further than three yards out by racing in from fully 25 metres for a great try which confounded his critics and himself! Ian Longman added a second try and debutant Keith Hendy got the other. Hopper added one conversion to give Chard a good win. Special mention for Matthew Ensor who had  a very good game and is another of the promising youngsters to come through to senior rugby from last seasons under 17 side. Three of that side have already played for the club 1st xv and it would be great to see a few more returning.

Next Saturday Chard 1st xv are away at Midsomer Norton in a Somerset premier league match ko at 2.30pm

The 2nd xv are at home to Ivel Barbarians in a Dorset and Wilts league game and the 3rd xv are at home to Wiveliscombe. Both games ko at 2.30 and the Ireland v England Game will be on in the club house after the game