CHARD RFC RUGBY REPORTS FOR SATURDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER
BY GLYN HUGHES
 
SATURDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER 2006
SOMERSET PREMIER LEAGUE

OLD REDCLIFFIANS  46PTS     CHARD  8 PTS

Chard thought they had played the best team in the league last week when they lost at home to Midsomer Norton but on Saturday they were given a rugby lesson by an outstanding Old Reds side who were very strong and powerful in the forwards and slick and quick in the backs.
Chard had started the game without the services of outstanding flanker John Porter who withdrew at the last minute with a calf injury and worse was to follow when in the opening minutes of the game Chard lost the services of prop forward Tom Richardson with a rib injury. His replacement was also then subsequently injured and after 10 minutes of the game the referee had no option but to play  the rest of the game with uncontested scrums.
The home side opened up a ten point lead with two unconverted tries before Chard replied with a penalty from Josh Findlay. Findlay failed with two more penalty attempts which would have put Chard in touch with the home side.
Old Reds had a very useful centre in their team and it turned out to be the former Bristol player Luke Nabarro who showed his class when ever he got the ball. He jinked his way through the Chard defence with consummate ease scoring two tries himself in the first half. He was aided by some woeful Chard tackling but never the less he looked a very good player.
Chard worked hard to get back into the game and Ryan Hellier who found himself at flanker in this game put in a more than useful performance through out the match.
Chard were trailing 27pts to 3pts at half time but at least they would have the benefit of the slope in the second half.
Chard started the second period well enough but after 10 minutes they were again undone by the pace of Nabarro who went over for his 3rd try. Chard then had their best period of the game and for 25 mins they matched their opponents. Findlay, Parsons and Stead all made telling breaks into the home defence and Chard thoroughly deserved the try they scored when scrum half Richard Jones who had remained calm and cool throughout forced his way over. Twigg was unsuccessful with the conversion. Chard could well have scored again but they lost possession at crucial times and retention of the ball is something that clearly needs to be worked on.
 Chard were always chasing the game and whereas some more experienced players might have settled for damage limitation at this point the youngsters in the Chard side often ran the ball when they had  little support and as a result got caught in possession and  lost the ball deep in their own half. Old Reds were too good a side to let such opportunities slip and made Chard pay with two converted tries in the final quarter of the game.
Chard have lost to two very good sides in recent weeks but if they have learned something from these two defeats it will help them to develop their game. They are still well placed in the league and certainly have the talent to go forward particularly if they can avoid any more injuries. Several players with knocks could take a rest next week as there is no first team game. The 1st xv were due to be playing Stothert and Pitt in a home league game but this has been postponed because Stothert are involved in an RfU cup match which has to take precedence. Some of the other players would do well to get a game with the second or thirds in order to develop their skills. It is also an opportunity for the club coach to watch other players and try out a few experiments.
CHARD;-DERMAN, HENDY,RICHARDSON,HENLEY,WRIGHT, PARSONS,MACKIE,HELLIER,JONES,TWIGG, WAGSTAFF,STEAD,HERBERT, GRACE, FINDLAY

Chard 2nd xv 7pts  Bournemouth 27pts(Dorset and Wilts league 2 south)

An unfit and disorganized looking Chard side played better than expected in the first half and only trailed by 10pts to 7 pts at the interval. Chard scored when a break by Wallis set up  Stuart Gold for an excellent try which Wallis converted. Wallis then missed a penalty under the posts which summed up Chards day. In the second half the pacey Bournemouth full back made the most of some wayward Chard kicking and ran in three tries when he collected the ball and ran in unopposed. Injuries in the first team squad have obviously affected the 2nd team but having gained promotion last year the team will have to add some organization and fitness to their undoubted spirit if they want to put up a good show in this league.
Next week the 2nd team will be looking for a pool game and the 3rd xv begin their season with a home match against Wellington.