Old Redcliffians 46pts, Chard 8pts. Somerset Premier.

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 whenever he got the ball. He jinked his way through the Chard defence with consummate ease scoring two tries himself in the first half.

Chard were trailing 27 pts 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 third try. Chard then had their best period of the game and for 25 minutes 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 went chasing the game, but 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.

The 1st XV were due to be playing Stothert and Pitt in a home league game this Saturday, but this has been postponed because Stothert are involved in an RFU cup match which has to take precedence.

Chard: Derman, Hendy, Richardson, Henley, Wright, Parsons, Mackie, Hellier, Jones, Twigg, Wagstaff, Stead, Herbert, Grace, Findlay.