11th February 2010

SOUTH SOMERSET RUGBY: Muddy conditions at Chard

by Keith Jenkin

CHARD 24pts WELLS 13pts

THE Dening field was sticky in the extreme for this vital Somerset Premier League encounter, and the heavier home pack had the better of the early exchanges.

In fact the home side took the lead after some ten minutes’ play when they pushed over from a five metre scrummage, with number eight Parsons claiming the try.

Nicholls added the extras and Chard were 7-0 ahead. At about this juncture however they suffered the loss of lock forward Henly who was taken to hospital with a gashed head.

Wells were giving every bit as good as they got too and, although they were coming second in the set scrums, they were harassing and getting quickly to the breakdown and obtaining the odd turnover. They sent the ball wide at every opportunity too, but the home defence coped.

Chard extended their lead on the half hour via the boot of Nicholls who kicked a penalty.

There followed a very considerable altercation between the packs and, when order was restored, a player from each side was sent to the bin and a Wells forward to the early bath for a head butt.

Seeming spurred by this loss, the visitors got back into the contest by scoring a converted try just before the interval after their replacement scrum half had dummied and scored from a lineout close to the home line.

Half time came with the score standing at 10-7 and matters far from being resolved.

Chard seemingly rammed home their one man advantage early in the second half. They kicked a penalty to the corner and, although they lost the ensuing lineout, the Wells scrum half knocked on at the base.

Chard then won the scrum, full back Stead came into the line and was the recipient of a well thrown cut out pass. He swerved past a couple of would-be tacklers and scored under the posts. Twigg converted from in front to give his side a ten point lead at17-7.

Wells were not done however and play during the next few minutes took place in Chard’s territory. The game was laced with yellow cards as the referee stamped his authority on proceedings, and King spent ten minutes behind the posts for entering a ruck from the side, and, from the resultant penalty Wells reduced the arrears by three points.

Chard lost their shape for a few minutes and their opponents were rewarded with another penalty goal on their next attack. With some fifteen minutes left however Chard reasserted themselves, putting the Wells line under pressure.

A Wells midfield back obligingly knocked on in front of his own posts, and Chard pushed the ensuing scrummage over, with Parsons again coming up with the ball. Nicholls, now back, having served his time, again kicked the goal and Chard had breathing space at 24-13 ahead.

Wells could not come back and Chard held on for the win with a bit to spare in the end.

While this was not one of their most fluent performances, the under-foot conditions and various other interruptions saw to that, I thought that Chard went pretty well. They certainly had an edge in the tight and played the conditions better than their opponents, whose out half tended to throw the long looped pass, and not all that accurately.

CHARD 2nd 84pts IVEL BARBARIANS 2nd 7pts

THIS game at the Crewkerne road pitch turned into a “stroll in the mud” as far as the Chard second side was concerned and, after an hour’s play it was decided that enough was enough.

The visitors had no answer to the home backs, superbly orchestrated by out half Clive Adams and tries came in profusion.

Robbie Walker had a field day, touching down on no less than six occasions. Adams himself scored a couple and kicked a few conversions to boot. “Devs” and Doel scored hat tricks, and flanker Spurway got the only try by a forward.

CREWKERNE 12pts WELLS 2nd 21pts

CREWKERNE suffered from their inability to turn pressure and territory into points.

They started brightly enough and spent much of the first period in their opponents’ territory but could only score once, when out half Nick Harris dummied his way over by the posts after twenty minutes’ play.

Draper added the extras to give side a seven point lead but, on the half hour the home side took advantage of a broken play situation and responded with a converted try of their own.

They got another with the final play of the half during one of their rare visits to the Crewkerne twenty two, and thus led 14-7 at the halfway stage. Crewkerne continued to apply pressure during the third quarter and reduced the arrears with an unconerted by Alex Cannell.

Wells were not done however and they again responded with a converted try within the final quarter to take the points.

FIXTURES February 13th: Bridport 2nd v Lytchett Minster 2nd, Chard v Midsomer Norton, Chard 2nd v Wells 2nd, Chard 3rd v Morganians (away); Chard Colts v Minehead Colts (away); Crewkerne v Ivel Barbarians 2nd (away); Honiton v Wessex (away); Honiton 2nd v Bideford 2nd, Sidmouth v St Mary’s Old Boys; Weymouth v Bridport.

SOUTH SOMERSET RUGBY: Muddy conditions at Chard

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