CHARD RUGBY REPORT
FOR
SATURDAY 22ND SEPTEMBER 2007
BY
GLYN HUGHES

SOMERSET PREMIER LEAGUE

OLD SULIANS 19 PTS CHARD 31 PTS

Despite a frantic last five minutes Chard won this game comfortably enough and remain unbeaten in the league this season.
Chard went into the game with a much changed and inexperienced back division but the home side rarely managed to exploit this possible weakness and did not really do so until the final ten minutes of the game by which time the game was beyond them.
Old Sulians started well and could have scored in the opening minutes but failed to take advantage of a two man overlap.
They had another opportunity after thirteen minutes but failed to kick a straight forward penalty goal from right in front of the posts. This would prove to be the last opportunity for the home side to get some points on the board in the first half as the rest of the play was totally dominated by Chard.
After twenty minutes Chard went ahead when a fluent period of handling by the visitors resulted in Ben King going over for a try converted by Paul Nicholls. Within minutes Chard increased their lead when following successful lineout possession Nicholls went over for a try which he could not convert. Johnny Porter linked up well with King for him to score his second converted try of the afternoon before another piece of solid play by the Chard pack ended with the ball being spun out wide to the right hand side and lock forward Paul Wright timed a perfect pass to winger James Herbert who raced over in the corner for Chards fourth try of the afternoon.
Chard led 24 0 at the interval and this was no more than they deserved
At the beginning of the second half Chard gave a debut to 17year old Max Gosden and he made an immediate impact by winning some clean lineout ball and showing that he was quite capable of playing at this level.
The Chard backs looked good in attack but they were somewhat lacking  defensively particularly in terms of their tactical and positional play  and it looked as if Old Sulians might be able to use this to their advantage especially when Chard failed to deal with a high ball and the home skipper Dan Brown went over for a converted try. However Chard regained their 24pt advantage very quickly when from a five metre scrummage number 8 Mark Parsons picked up and drove over for Chards fifth try of the game again converted by Nicholls.
Chard continued to dominate most areas of play until the last ten minutes of play when Sulians managed to exploit the defensive frailties of the Chard back division and went over for two tries which at least left  the home supporters with something to cheer.
A generally sound and effective performance by Chard who remain unbeaten and share top spot in the league with Wells.

SOMERSET 3 SOUTH     MINEHEAD 24PTS CHARD 32PTS

After an initial burst from  Minehead the young Chard side used their pace to out run the home side and ran in six tries with Adam Taylor 2, Billy Vernon 2, Tom Hartley and Rob Hall all getting on the scoresheet.

Next Saturday the first xv are at home to St Bernadettes in a premier league game. The 2nd xv are at home to North Dorset and the 3rd xv are away at Taunton. All games ko at 3pm

The crucial world cup game between England and Tonga will be shown on the big screen at the clubhouse on Friday 8pm ko.  All welcome.