CHARD RUGBY REPORT
FOR
SATURDAY 1ST DECEMBER 2007

SOMERSET PREMIER LEAGUE

WELLS 19PTS  CHARD 7PTS

This was a very close contest between two useful sides but Wells deserved their win because they managed to take advantage of the scoring opportunities that came their way whilst Chard were unable to do so.
The game was played in unpleasant conditions with the players having to put up with high winds, rain and slippery  conditions under foot.
Chard played up the slope in the first half and were soon being bombarded with high balls from the boot of the Wells flyhalf but on the whole the Chard back three coped with these quite well and fullback James Herbert did particularly well considering he was playing out of position because Ben Stead started on the bench having sustained an injury during the pre match warm up!
Chard were not surprisingly on the defensive for lengthy periods in the first half and after fifteen minutes Wells took the lead. Chard failed to win their own lineout and Wells moved the ball quickly out to the right and their fullback Chris Saunders came into the line at pace and scored a good try which was not converted.
Chard have been having front row problems for quite some time both in terms of personnel and  regular availability and in this game they were grateful to be able to call up former player Tas Bailey who came in and did a good job. A few seasons ago former skipper Jon Hendy  made a very successful switch to hooker from the back row and if Chard are to solve their current crisis in the front row then other players of first team standard will have to  be prepared to learn the art of propping or the club will have to make strenuous efforts to sign on players which will not be easy. The current weekly problems can not continue if the club are to move forward.
Wells had another try disallowed for a forward pass but on the whole the Chard defensive play was  sound and Wells did not look like scoring too often. Jim Wagstaff made some excellent runs and breaks for Chard but the support was not there or the ball got knocked on at crucial times. On the day the Wells backs were somewhat more fleet footed than their Chard counter parts  who were guilty of dropped passes and getting caught in possession too often although in fairness they were hardly helped by the conditions.
Chard reached the interval only five points behind and were certainly in with a chance of getting a victory
Despite now playing up the slope Wells had the best of the early play and were confident enough to spurn an easy penalty attempt  in favour of going for a try. Chard however defended superbly and scrum half Nicholls pulled off several stunning tackles to keep his side in the game. However having fought their way out of this initial difficult position Chard relaxed and a swift counter attack from Wells ended with Alex Knight scoring a try which Aaron Cook converted to put his side twelve points up.
Chard pressed hard for a score and the effort of all the players could not be faulted with Hendy, Wagstaff, Porter and Nicholls being particularly prominent. Time and again Chard looked certain to score but were frustrated by a good Wells defence and a lack of that final killer touch. Chards frustration came to a head when against the run of play a dropped ball in midfield was hacked up field and Saunders won the race for the ball and touched down for Wells third try again converted by Knight. It was clearly not meant to be Chards day .
In the latter stages of the game Chard got some reward for their efforts when they ran a penalty and Mark Parsons scored a great try from a well worked move. Nicholls quickly dropped a goal for the conversion to give Chard time to go for another score but time ran out for the visitors who would probably reluctantly admit that on the day Wells just about deserved to win

Dorset and Wilts 2 south   Chard 3pts  Swanage and Wareham 34pts
A good enjoyable competitive game with Swanage holding a narrow advantage of 10pts at half time. However in the second half the Swanage backs got into their stride and pulled away to record a comfortable win.