South West 1W

Chard 67 Coney Hill 14

THE home side made a positive start but their opponents soon demonstrated they had not come just to make up the numbers, and the next few minutes belonged to them.

As Chard had done they kicked a penalty to the corner and their driving lineout came to nought with one of their locks being sent to the bin for careless use of the boot.

After 15 minutes Coney Hill overthrew at a lineout, Parsons tidied up well at the back and the ball was sent wide where a ruck formed and Casey got over from the 22.

Humphreys’ conversion was accurate and Chard led 7-0.

Ten minutes later, Coney Hill infringed at a scrum and scrum-half Johnson took the quick tap and scampered over by the posts; Humphreys added the extras.

A third try came on the half-hour and saw the ball pass through a dozen pairs of hands before Humphreys was well up to score and convert.

Johnson added another try to give Chard a 26-0 lead at the break.

With the bonus point already in the bag, the home side increased their lead within minutes of the restart.

This time it was Sturridge going over on the left, then a flowing move was finished off by Chad Northcott.

A third score came before the half was ten minutes old, Hunt dotting down out wide; then Northcott continued his influential afternoon with another.

Humphreys’ conversion notched up the half-century.

Coney Hill were rewarded just before the hour when they got over for a converted try.

With the game well and truly won, Chard did tend to lose focus for a while, allowing their opponents in for another converted try.

Chard answered decisively, however, and Northcott got over again.

Mark Parsons then galloped over from a lineout, and he completed another Northcott break by touching down under the sticks.

Northcott’s successful conversion was the final kick of a very entertaining game.

Other results went in Chard’s favour and they will compete in the South West Division next season.