CHARD  RUGBY REPORT
FOR
 SATURDAY 21ST OCTOBER 2006
By Glyn Hughes
SOMERSET PREMIER LEAGUE
CHARD 18PTS CHEW VALLEY24PTS

This was only the second home game for Chard this season and for the second time they lost the game in the dying minutes of injury time, when a late try and a penalty put the visitors into the lead for the first time.
Chard welcomed back Chris Bond into the pack and also recalled Martin Carnell to the pack but they were without the services of the promising colt Ryan Helliar who was unwell.
The game was again watched by a crowd approaching 200 and they would be treated to a very evenly contested match which could have gone either way, but again illustrated that all games in this league are a very tough prospect.
Chew got the better of the opening stages but were unable to put their good work into points. They were particularly good up front and turned over a lot of ruck ball but good defence by Chard and some poor options taken by the Chew backs kept the game scoreless for the first 20minutes of play. It was Chard who would go into the lead and they did so after a series of storming runs from vice captain Mark Parsons who has been excellent in every game this season. Parsons finished off some co-ordinated play by the Chard forwards and crashed over in the right hand corner for the first try of the game. Fullback Josh Finlay converted with a superb kick from the touchline to give Chard a7pt advantage after 25mins play. Shortly afterwards Chew spurned the chance of an easy 3pts from a penalty and instead opted to kick to touch. It proved to be a good decision as they pulled off a textbook move from the resultant lineout and prop Dave Brunt went over for a try close to the posts. Darren Jeffries converted and the game was all square. Jeffries missed an easy penalty to put his side ahead after 35mins. Just before half-time Chard flyhalf James Twigg had a similar opportunity and he made no mistake to give Chard a narrow 10pts to7pts lead at the interval.
Chard had got to grips with the visitors forwards by now and they started the second half in a very positive fashion. After 15mins of the half Chard increased their lead when Parsons took out several players with a storming run and off loaded the ball to Alan Henley who in turn linked up with Skipper Jim Wagstaff who went over for a fine try close to the posts. Unfortunately Twigg missed the conversion but the home side now led 15-7. After 20 minutes Chew reduced the arrears again when they took advantage of some indecision by the home backs. The ball was turned over quickly and a lovely counterattack resulted in Steve Brunt going over for a try. Jeffries converted to bring Chew to within 1pt. Twigg  successfully slotted a penalty for Chard to put his side 4pts ahead but the whole game would be decided in final moments of injury time. Jeffries was yellow carded for allegedly stamping with only injury time remaining. At this point Chard thought this had turned the game in their favour but the referee who had been missed a lot during the match seemed keen to even things up and then sinbinned  Broome the Chard prop. This weakened Chard in the next scrum and Chew took full advantage and drove the Chard pack over their own line and Kitchen was credited with the try which fullback Todd converted to put his side into the lead for the first time. With the game already 5 minutes into injury time Chard tried valiantly to draw level but only resulted in giving Todd another penalty attempt which he gratefully accepted to seal victory for his side. A cruel final blow for Chard but Chew were a useful side and worked hard for their win.
CHARD TEAM;-CARNELL, HENDY, BOND, HENLEY, WRIGHT, PARSONS, MACKIE, SUMMERS, JONES, TWIGG, WAGSTAFF(CAPT) KING,HERBERT, GOLD, FINLAY. REPLACEMENTS:-BRUN(FOR FINLAY75MINS) BROOME (FOR CARNELL(65MINS) KING.

NEXT SATURDAY CHARD 1ST XV DO NOT HAVE AGAME 

THE 2ND XV GAME AGAINST POOLE WAS CANCELLED

CHARD 3RD XV 80PTS CASTLE CARY 5PTS
This game was fairly evenly contested until half time when Chard only led by 19pts to 5 pts. In the second half Cary who had to borrow 3 players from the Chard 2nd xv to make up a full team wilted under severe pressure and also had to contend with a superb individual performance from scrum half Paul Nicholls who not only scored 2 tries but also kicked 10 conversions during the match for A personal tally of 30pts. Further Chard tries were scored by Clive Adams 3 Mick Duffy 2, Brian Male, Chris King 2, Neil Francis and up and coming youngster Andy King.

NEXT SATURDAY THE 2ND XV AWAY TO MINEHEAD 2NDS… AND THE 3RD XV ARE AT HOME TO MINEHEAD 3RDS KO 3PM ON THE MAIN PITCH.