CHARD RUGBY REPORT
FOR
SATURDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER 2007
BY
GLYN HUGHES

SOMERSET PREMIER LEAGUE

CHARD 31PTS AVON 8PTS

Chard had a comfortable win over their Bath rivals in this the opening league match of the new campaign.
The game started off as a fairly evenly contested encounter with the Avon side having the better of the set scrums but Chard appeared to have the cutting edge that could change the course of the game in their favour.
Chard had a chance to go ahead after 3minutes when they were awarded a penalty 30 metres out but the usually reliable boot of Nicholls let him down on this occasion and things remained all square.
The game was being played in heatwave conditions but was a good contest with both sides doing their best to play attractive and open rugby. After twenty minutes play Chard went ahead when skipper Wagstaff  gained possession in his own 22metre area and made a blistering run down the left hand side of the pitch before linking well with Ben Stead who went over for a stunning try under the posts. Paul Nicholls slotted over the conversion and Chard were on their way. Avon reduced the deficit with a well struck penalty goal from the boot of Shaun Wynes but the heat was beginning to tell on the visitors and their dominance in the set scrums was beginning to disappear and Chard were now looking much the better side. Mark Lees at flyhalf was controlling things well and hooker Giles Lock was finding his players easily in the lineout. With all this control Chard had a lot of attacking options  and were confident enough to spurn several penalty goals to try and go for maximum points instead. They failed to manage this but  they did score another try just before the interval when yet another storming run by number8 Mark Parsons set by second phase ball and centre Matt Ousley who was looking in really good form burst through for a try again converted by Nicholls which gave Chard a 14-3 interval lead.
In the early moments of the second half the Chard forwards powered their way close to the visitors line and when the ball was fed back to Lees he calmly dropped a goal to increase the home sides advantage.
Chard were now well on top and were dominating the play in most areas. Alan Henley in the Chard second row was having a particularly strong game and was instrumental in setting up many attacking situations. From one of these the ball went out to flanker Johnny Porter who burst through the Avon defensive line before calmly drawing the fullback and timing his pass perfectly to Ousley who went over under the posts for Chards third converted try of the day.
Avon rallied and made the most of a penalty when they ran it quickly and moved the ball out smartly to the right and centre Phil Balmont went over for a consolation unconverted try.
It was not long before Chard again illustrated their superiority and Ben Stead  scored another delightful try which like the previous three tries were good enough to grace any rugby arena. The forwards again secured good clean possession and Stead took a pass at pace and craved his way through the Avon defence to score his second try which was again converted by Nicholls.
A good win for Chard and it was pleasing to see the players following the set game plan laid down clearly for them by coach Steve Broome.

Next Saturday Chard are at home again in a Somerset Premier league match  when their opponents will be Gordano ko 3pm

SOMERSET DIVISION 3 SOUTH

BURNHAM ON SEAS 2ND XV 17PTS CHARD A XV 65PTS

Chard fielded a side which included a number of last seasons under 17 side and a selection of regular senior players in this first match for the club in this league. The younger players took a little time to settle against some seasoned campaigners but gradually grew in confidence and helped their side to a eleven try performance  to which Burnham had little answer after the first quarter .
Chard scored seven tries in the opening half with these coming from Andy Mckerrow,  Adam Taylor 2, Roger Summers, Billy Vernon, Alex Tuffill and Finn O' Brien. Only one of the tries was converted but Chard led 10-37 at the interval. In the second half veteran forward Jon King got in the act with two tries and further tries came from Nigel Baker and Adam Taylor his third of the game. Wallis converted all four tries to give Chard a fine victory that was only marred by an injury late in the game to O,Brien.
All the young players adapted well to the demands of senior rugby and none more so than flanker Max Gosden who was outstanding throughout. Special mention also to Danny Crabb who did an admirable job in the front row of the scrum for Chard.

Next Saturday as well as the first team game against Gordano Chard have other league matches against Blandford away and Weston Hornets at home. All games kicking off at 3pm

The world cup match between England and South Africa will be on the big screen at the club on Friday evening. The game starts at 8pm. All welcome.

Chard 1stxv have been drawn away against Minehead  in the 2nd round of the national senior vase competition and this match is scheduled to take place on Saturday 13th October.