CHARD Hockey Club's teams took part in a Saturday of friendly action against Yeovil & Sherborne at the weekend.

It was the last chance the teams had to get some game time under their belt ahead of the new season.

Three of Chard's sides took on teams from Yeovil & Sherborne, two of which fell to defeat while one game ended in a draw.

The Mens First team lost 6-0 in their match against Yeovil & Sherborne Firsts.

It was a tough outing against the stronger opposition but a good opportunity to get fitness levels up ahead of the league campaign.

Elsewhere, Chard's Womens Firsts lost 3-0 to Yeovil & Sherborne Seconds in the last match.

Again, it was a spirited display from Chard against the stronger opponent and a final opportunity to run through tactics before the season starts.

Finally, from a two goal deficit, Chard fought back to earn a deserved draw courtesy of two goals from Tom Sainsbury, one of 9 teenagers in the squad of 13 who all acquitted themselves well against a mature and far more experienced Yeovil side.

In an evenly contested first half, Chard put plenty of pressure on Yeovil but were unable to convert this into shots on goal.

Chard's keeper Luke Bradshaw was similarly largely untroubled as the home side's attacking efforts were, in the main comfortably contained by the Chard back four, including Matt Edmunds playing his first match for the club in ten years and Flynn Bowie who put in an outstanding performance playing left back for the first time.

It was tough on Chard that the home side nicked the lead on the stroke of half time, a deflected penalty corner shot squeezing past Bradshaw.

When Yeovil doubled their lead early in the second half, the defence failing to clear the ball after Bradshaw saved another penalty corner effort, defeat looked on the cards.

However, this setback only served to galvanise Chard's attacking efforts. Sainsbury first goal owed something to the keeper fumbling his tame shot, but his second was confidently dispatched from close range and the result of an excellent team move in which Bowie could claim an assist.

With the scores level, Yeovil hit back with their own spell of pressure and Bradshaw pulled off an excellent double save from another penalty corner effort to ensure Chard enjoyed a deserved share of the spoils.

A spokesperson from the club said: "Some good games today but some tough results. A good opportunity for many of the teams to look ahead to the start of the season next week."