CHARD'S first home game in National League 3 saw them lose 21-17 to Old Redcliffians, writes Glyn Hughes. Chard welcomed back skipper Mark Parsons and Charlie Roberts into the team.

Chard started the game well and took the lead after only three minutes play when winger Ben Stead stormed down the right side and crossed the visitors line for the opening try.

Without a front-line kicker in their team Neil Douglas took on the duties and calmly slotted over the conversion to give Chard a seven point lead.

Chard as a team seem obsessed with running the ball from deep in their own half and became rather predictable.

Old Reds held their defensive line well and it was no real surprise when they eventually turned over possession and their useful looking back division counter attacked in fine style. After several passes the ball was passed back inside to hooker Craig McGrath who crossed the line for an unconverted try.

Old Reds took the lead after 25 minutes after Chard flanker Ryan Helliar took a quick tap and go from a penalty close to the half way line when there wasn’t really much of an opening.

The ball was lost in the tackle and the visitors made the most of things and ran the ball into the 22 area where Chard conceded a penalty which the visiting fly half Ashley Groves slotted over to give his team a slender lead.

The rest of the half was a well-contested and even affair and the teams reached the break with the score still 8-7 to Old Reds.

Chard, who had conceded seven penalties in the opening half, conceded another early in the second period and Groves added the points to put his side four points ahead.

Charlie Roberts then made a super pass to set Stead on his way and after several passes Chard took the ball out wide where skipper Parsons was on hand to cross for Chard’s second try.

The conversion was missed but crucially Chard were now back in front.

Chard now had their best phase of the game and a defence-splitting break by full-back Bryan Harrison set up Bryn May who crossed for his first try in senior rugby.

The conversion was again missed but Chard now held a six point advantage well into the second period.

Chard continued to play some good rugby but the visiting backs had some fine handling skills and they used these to great effect.

Chard lost the ball in a strong attacking position and after six or seven phases of play Old Reds worked the ball down the length of the field and lock forward Shane Hancock took the final pass to score a really good try.

Groves added the extra points to put his side in the lead.

In the dying moments of the game, in a final effort to score, Chard ran the ball from deep but lost the ball and in doing so gave away another penalty which Groves converted to clinch victory in what had been a very even and entertaining game for the crowd.

As a team Chard gave everything but some of their decision-making was questionable to say the least and they will need to work out the best positions to play the players they have available – which ironically is fewer than they had last year.

Neil Douglas would surely be more of a threat in his accustomed position of centre but who then plays fly half? And clearly the team need to find a kicker.

This was a hard-working and competitive performance by the Chard side who travel to play Oxford Harlequins next Saturday with the coach leaving at 10am.

There will be room for up to 25 supporters on the coach. Anyone interested should confirm their interest to Jerry Duffield on 01460-261810.

Chard: Harrison, Stead, Roberts. L Massey, May, Douglas, Selway, Wagstaff, Helliar, Parsons (capt) Henley, Gosden, Hyslop, Robinson, Aplin. Replacements (not used): B Biss, D Biss, Johnson.