CHARD RUGBY CLUB MATCH REPORT FROM GLYN HUGHES

SATURDAY 30TH DECEMBER 2006

CHARD 53 pts  V CREWKERNE 14pts

The appalling weather abated for a few hours which allowed this traditional holiday fixture to take place although the game had to be switched to the Crewkerne Road  ground because the main pitch was too wet.
Both sides fielded ‘ Club’ sides and indeed the Chard side had players from all three senior sides and the colts.
Crewkerne opened the scoring in the opening seconds when speedy centre Andy Blackmore gathered a loose ball and raced in from over 40metres. Jack Price added the extras. Chard then put Crewkerne under a lot of pressure and looked certain to score  but a bad pass was intercepted and Johnny Mitchell made his pace tell when he ran over 80metres to touch down for the visitors second try which was again converted by Price to put Crewkerne ahead by 14pts to nil.
Gradually the greater experience in the Chard side began to tell and tries from Ben Stead and former Crewkerne skipper Chris Bond put Chard within touch.  Another try from the useful Stead which this time was successfully converted by Clive Adams gave Chard an interval lead of 3 pts.
 In the second half Chard had the elements in their favour and they took a total grip on the game.. The forwards well led by skipper Roger Summers dominated the set pieces with Gyles Lock and Thomas Jones being particularly prominent. With so much possession Chard were able to launch an all out attack on the Crewkerne line and they ran in six second half tries scored by Adams 2, Ryan Hellier, Stuart Longman, Ben King and Stead who went over for his third try of the afternoon. Adams and King converted tree of the tries to give Chard a comfortable victory which was certainly not expected after the great start made by Crewkerne.
The game was played in great spirit and despite the scoreline Crewkerne gave everything and contributed well to a pleasant afternoons rugby.
CHARD TEAM:- LOVELOCK(TEMPLEMAN 60MINS) LOCK, DERMAN(JONES 40MINS),
M. SUMMERS( SMITH 70MINS)  LONGMAN, R SUMMERS (CAPT) BOND, DUFFY, McKERROW, TWIGG, KING, HELLIER, STEAD(VERNON 70MINS) HERBERT, ADAMS.