CHARD RUGBY REPORT FOR SATURDAY 23RD FEBRUARY 2008

SOMERSET PREMIER LEAGUE

CHARD 6PTS CHEW VALLEY 20PTS

The Dening Field was form under foot and had a breeze blowing from corner to corner as the home side were asked to play with it at their backs initially.
The visitors were a young and big side and gave early indications that they were slick outside the srcum. They started the game at a brisk tempo and were able to recycle the ball quickly.
After a couple of thrusts through their backs they sent the ball out wide and the left winger found himself in space  and he touched down five metres from touch for an unconverted try after only five minutes play.
The home cause was not helped at all when hooker and former skipper Jon Hendy had to leave the field with a badly torn hamstring. Things looked even bleaker when the next scrum saw Chard driven back with frightening ease. Chard did get down to the task in hand and despite being under the cosh  they were still only five points adrift at the end of the first quarter during which a long penalty attempt from Nicholls had also drifted just wide of the posts. On the half hour  however Chew increased their lead  when chew opted for a scrum instead of a penalty. They wheeled the ball well and their large number eight rolled over for another unconverted try.
In the minutes leading up to half time Chard got back into the game with two penalties from the accurate boot of |Nicholls when Chew were penalised for a high tackle and offside respectively.
Half time Chard 6pts Chew valley 10pts
 Chard were playing a useful  side but were giving a good account of themselves.
 The second half started fairly evenly but the pacy visitors back division always looked likely to  create something.
Chard had improved a great deal in the set pieces with 'Bushy' Singleton to the fore. However  a bad mistake following a tap penalty from Chew just outside the Chard 22 metre area was  punished and chew went over for their third try of the game. The Chew kicker was having a nightmare and again the conversion was missed.
In the last few minutes Chard fate was sealed when the very useful visitors fullback  made the most of a poor Chard defensive kick and his swift counter attack and offload resulted in Chew scoring their fourth try.
A much improved Chard performance which will hopefully build some confidence for the home match next week against Bath side Old Sulians when Chard will also welcome back skipper Jim Wagstaff who has been on the 'piste' for the past week but hooker Hendy is likely to to be out for the remainder of the campaign.